Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer cell. In order to diagnose a case of epithelioid mesothelioma, a biopsy is required. A type of diagnostic surgery, a biopsy involves the removal of a section of suspect tissue for examination by a histopathologist.
Epithelioid mesothelioma has a unique cellular pattern that is somewhat tubular. When viewed under high magnification, epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells have a fairly distinct nucleus.
Although the tubular cellular pattern associated with epithelioid mesothelioma is considered to be unique, there are a number of other cancers that can take on a similar appearance. When such cancers occur in the mesothelium, it could potentially foster the misdiagnosis of the disease. A cancer of the mesothelium most commonly confused with epithelioid mesothelioma is adenocarcinoma.