Given your age, minimal smoking history and no documentation of exposure to asbestos, the likelihood of mesothelioma is extremely low. In addition, mesothelioma is most often evident on chest X-ray and rarely causes pain, as described. Rib pain, in this circumstance is most likely on the basis of inflammation of the cartilage, often secondary to forgotten trauma.
One should first determine if the pain and tenderness arise from the rib or from the adjacent abdomen. If from the rib, as suspected, a bone scan might be helpful. If this scan is normal, and your physician is certain that the pain is not originating from your gallbladder or other abdominal source, you and your physician might want to consider a trial of an anti-inflammatory drug.
thank you for the information.
fairydust.