If it is found that you had a lot of exposure to asbestos fibers in your doctor May begin with a physical examination accompanied by a chest x-ray, and then some plucne function testing. X-ray can be used to check for thickening of the pleural wall, which is often associated with mesothelioma. A cat scan was also taken away and if the results show abnormal amount of fluid, the fluid samples were taken out through the pleural tap (chest drain), cells in the fluid were then studied and if there is no malignant cells are then mesothelioma, although not completely ruled out, it usually indicates a different type of situation.