Is this really mesothelioma?
- Tissue biopsy is the gold standard
- Fluid cytology alone often needs confirming
- Misdiagnosis as adenocarcinoma is common
- Second-opinion pathology is worth requesting
Free, confidential case reviews for patients and families in all 50 states

Mesothelioma research & compensation
Straight answers on diagnosis, treatment and asbestos exposure, plus a free review that tells you in minutes whether a claim is still available in your state.
At a glance
Mesothelioma is rare, aggressive and almost always caused by asbestos. The numbers that matter most are the ones on the clock.
How it happens
Asbestos fibers do not break down. Once inhaled or swallowed, they stay in the body and irritate the lining of the lungs or abdomen for decades.

Fibers released by cutting, sanding, stripping or repairing asbestos materials.
Microscopic fibers embed in the pleura or peritoneum and cannot be cleared.
20 to 50 quiet years pass with no symptoms at all.
Breathlessness or abdominal swelling leads to imaging, then biopsy.
Start here
Each answer links to a deeper guide written for patients, not lawyers.
By location
The state where the exposure happened usually decides which court hears the case and how long you have to file.
Shortest deadlines
Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky — 1 year
Longest deadlines
Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota — 6 years
Busiest dockets
Madison County IL, NYCAL, Philadelphia
Coverage
All 50 states, city by city

By trade
If you worked in any of these before 1982, exposure is likely even if you never handled asbestos directly.
Guides
Every guide is structured the same way: key facts first, then the detail.
Questions
Free, confidential case review for patients and families in all 50 states.