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Many people with mesothelioma have fluid collecting around their affected lung (or in their abdomen with peritoneal mesothelioma). If there is evidence of this, your doctor may want to take a sample to look for abnormal cells, using a microscope. First a local anaesthetic is used to numb the area, and then a needle is passed through your skin. A sample is then drawn off with a syringe. Sometimes a significant amount of fluid collects, which may affect your breathing. In this case, as well as removing a small fluid sample for testing, the doctor may remove more to help your breathing if this has been a problem for you.
If fluid is taken from between the pleura, this is called pleural aspiration. If fluid is taken from your abdomen, it is called peritoneal aspiration or draining of ascites.
