The first stage of mesothelioma staging in the Brigham System is called Stage I mesothelioma.
It is characterized by the resectability of the mesothelial tumors (how effective removing them by surgery would be) and lymph node status (the amount of malignant cells found in lymph nodes). A patient with Brigham Stage I mesothelioma has:
- malignant tumors that can be extracted or removed using surgery
- lymph nodes with no transfer or growth of tumors from adjacent tissue
- encapsulated tumors of the parietal pleura, lungs, pericardium, diaphragm and/or chest walls
Prognosis for patients with Brigham Stage I mesothelioma can be good provided that effective surgical and/or noninvasive therapies (e.g., radiation, chemotherapy) are begun promptly.
