Lung cancer diagnostic evaluations
X-ray for lung cancer
X-ray for lung cancer
A chest X-ray for lung cancer uses high-energy electromagnetic radiation to provide images of the lungs and surrounding tissues.X-ray for lung cancer is commonly the first lung cancer imaging test you'll experience. Chest X-rays for lung cancer may reveal abnormalities such as shaded areas, which may be evaluated further to determine whether or not they are tumors.
What is an X-ray?
An X-ray, a type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation, is often used for medical imaging. X-ray technology may be used to examine many parts of the body. This image-guided technology is an important procedure for cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment.An X-ray uses electromagnetic radiation to create images. The image is recorded on a film, called a radiograph. The images produced appear light or dark, depending on the absorption rates of the various tissues. For example, dense materials, such as bone, show up white on a film, while fat and muscle may appear in varying shades of gray.
Originally, X-rays were used for imaging bones, because they were easily distinguishable from soft tissues on films available at the time. Today, improvements such as better photographic films, more accurate focusing systems and more sensitive detection methods have led to better imaging technology and results. Using lower-exposure levels, fine detail and subtle differences may be distinguished in tissue density. Advances in technology have led to the development of computed tomography (CT), which combines multiple X-ray images into a 3D model.
A valuable medical tool, the X-ray is a noninvasive procedure used for diagnosing disease, monitoring therapy and planning surgical treatment. X-rays may also be used in guiding the placement of medical devices such as catheters and stents.
Before undergoing certain types of X-rays, you may be given a contrast medium like barium or iodine to help identify a specific area of the body on the X-ray image. Contrast mediums may be swallowed or given as an injection or an enema.
An X-ray exam is quick and painless. In low doses, X-rays may be used to create images of structures inside the body to detect and stage a tumor. Radiation exposure from an X-ray for imaging is low, and research suggests the benefits far outweigh the risks. In higher doses, X-rays may be used in radiation therapy to help destroy cancerous cells in the body.
CT scan for lung cancer
CT scan for lung cancer
A CT scan for lung cancer reveals the anatomy of the lungs and surrounding tissues, which our lung cancer doctors use the CT scan for lung cancer to diagnose and monitor tumor growth. If neurological symptoms are present, a CT scan for lung cancer of the brain may be performed to check for metastases.What is a CT scan?
Computed tomography (CT) scan (also known as a computed axial tomography scan, or CAT scan) is one of the most commonly used tools for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.A CT scan is an X-ray procedure that uses a computer to produce three-dimensional, cross-sectional images of inside the body. Unlike conventional X-rays, CT scans provide exceptionally detailed images of the bones, organs and tissues. X-rays are taken from many angles and combined to create a cross-sectional image.
During a CT scan, a patient rests on a table and slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. Some exams require a contrast dye to be injected into a vein before the procedure. This helps certain areas show up better on the images. The procedure is painless and typically takes a few minutes.
A CT scan may be used to pinpoint the location of a tumor, evaluate the extent of cancer in the body, and assess whether the disease is responding to treatment. In some cases, CT technology is used to accurately guide cancer treatment during a procedure.
Lab tests for lung cancer
Lab tests for lung cancer
- Genomic tumor assessment: Genomic testing examines a tumor on a genetic level to find the DNA alterations that are driving the growth of cancer. By identifying the mutations that occur in a cancer cell's genome, we can better understand what caused the tumor and tailor treatment based on these findings. Learn more about genomic tumor assessment.
- Tumor molecular profiling: If you have a solid tumor, we’ll try to get a sample of tissue during a biopsy or surgery. Then, we’ll test for the presence of a variety of enzymes, proteins and genes to identify which therapies are likely to be most effective. Learn more about tumor molecular profiling.
- Nutrition panel: With this test, we evaluate patients for deficiency of nutrients, such as vitamin D and iron. The test helps us identify the nutrients patients need replaced or boosted to support their quality of life. Learn more about our Nutrition Therapy program.
What are lab tests?
To diagnose lung cancer, your doctor may recommend a various lab tests. Your doctor will collect a blood sample, and then send it to a pathologist for further testing.Lung nodule analysis for lung cancer
Lung nodule analysis for lung cancer
Our radiation oncologists use this advanced post-treatment technology to evaluate how lung cancer tumors are responding to treatment.Learn more about lung cancer diagnostics
What is a lung nodule analysis?
Lung nodule analysis compares CT scans taken at regular intervals to measure changes in tumor volume and density, which our doctors use to guide ongoing lung cancer treatment.CT angiogram for lung cancer
CT angiogram for lung cancer
Your radiologist may perform a CT angiogram for lung cancer if you are experiencing shortness of breath to check for blood clots or other blockages in the lungs.What is a CT angiogram?
A CT angiogram for lung cancer allows doctors to examine the pulmonary artery, which is the main artery that supplies blood to the lungs from the heart. In this test, a special iodine-based contrast material is injected into the body before a CT angiogram for lung cancer to illuminate the pulmonary artery and smaller blood vessels in the chest.PET/CT scan for lung cancer
PET/CT scan for lung cancer
A CT scan creates a 3D picture of the lungs, but it can miss small tumors if part of the lung has collapsed, as is sometimes the case. A PET scan goes beyond anatomy to show what is happening at a cellular level in the tissues of the lung.Combining PET/CT technology enables our doctors to know where the healthy lung tissue ends and the tumor begins. A PET scan also reveals cancerous cells before any structural changes are present. This precisely pinpoints tumors, so that we can properly diagnose and stage the disease, and focus treatment on the cancerous tissues.
What is a PET/CT scan?
This advanced nuclear imaging technique combines positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) into one machine. A PET/CT scan reveals information about both the structure and function of cells and tissues in the body during a single imaging session.During a PET/CT scan, the patient is first injected with a glucose (sugar) solution that contains a very small amount of radioactive material. The substance is absorbed by the particular organs or tissues being examined. The patient rests on a table and slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner. The PET/CT scanner is then able to "see" damaged or cancerous cells where the glucose is being taken up (cancer cells often use more glucose than normal cells) and the rate at which the tumor is using the glucose (which can help determine the tumor grade). The procedure is painless and varies in length, depending on the part of the body that is being evaluated.
By combining information about the body's anatomy and metabolic function, a PET/CT scan provides a more detailed picture of cancerous tissues than either test does alone. The images are captured in a single scan which provides a high level of accuracy.
Biopsy for lung cancer
Biopsy for lung cancer
During a lung biopsy procedure, your doctor removes a small piece of tissue or fluid from the chest so it can be examined under a microscope to check for cancer cells.What is a biopsy?
During a biopsy, a doctor removes a sample of tissue or fluid from the body. A pathologist inspects the cells under a microscope to see if they are cancerous. If the cells are found to be cancerous, a biopsy can help determine whether the cancer began at the site of the biopsy, or if it started somewhere else in the body and spread to the biopsy site.Some biopsies are performed under image guidance, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This allows your doctor to collect cells from deeper inside the body. Depending on the type of biopsy performed, you will receive an anesthetic to minimize any pain.
Compared with other diagnostic tests for cancer, biopsies often provide a more definitive diagnosis. A biopsy can help determine whether the cancer began at the site of the biopsy sample, or if it started somewhere else in the body and spread to the site of the biopsy sample.
Some sites that are commonly biopsied include the breast, skin, bone marrow, GI tract, lung, liver, bladder, colon and lymph nodes. Our doctors determine the most appropriate method of biopsy based on several factors, such as the size, shape, location, and characteristics of the abnormality.
Endobronchial ultrasound for lung cancer
EBUS for lung cancer
EBUS is a less invasive alternative to a mediastinoscopy, a surgical procedure requiring a series of incisions in the chest under general anesthesia.What is an endobronchial ultrasound?
An endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) uses ultrasound guidance to detect cancerous cells in the lymph nodes of the chest.During an EBUS, the bronchoscope is fitted with an ultrasound device to reach the lymph nodes and remove a sample of tissue.
Using EBUS, your physician can perform the same procedure using a very thin needle aspiration to obtain a tissue sample of the lymph nodes in the chest.
Autofluorescence bronchoscopy for lung cancer
Autofluorescence bronchoscopy for lung cancer
This technolgoy allows our physicians to identify cancerous cells in the bronchial tubes that may not be visible under white light examination. The doctor can then remove a small sample of abnormal tissue for further analysis.What is an autofluorescence bronchoscopy?
Also known as blue-light bronchoscopy, autoflourescense bronchoscopy is used to find and diagnose tiny tumors.For the procedure, your doctor will insert a scope through your mouth or nose and into your lungs. Then, a video camera and two different light sources will give your doctor a view of your airways.
One light will be a tradiational white light source, while the other is a special blue light (a.k.a., fluorescence) that causes abnormal cells to stand out. Under the blue light, healthy tissues appear green and abnormal tissues appear reddish-brown.