Common Tests Used To Diagnose Cancer
When an individual is screened for cancer or their physician feels their symptoms and medical history suggest the possibility of cancer, further testing is required to find cancer or rule cancer out as the underlying cause of their symptoms. A physical exam, personal medical history, and family medical history can tip off a physician to the possibility of cancer or an increased risk of cancer. Numerous blood tests may be used to search for abnormalities in the blood and bone marrow. Numerous methods of diagnostic imaging are utilized to help find a cancerous mass in a patient's organs and other body tissues. Some diagnostic imaging techniques require the use of contrast material or dye to provide a more thorough picture of the patient's organs. A procedure called a biopsy may also be used to determine if a mass in the body is cancerous.
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Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count is a blood test that can assist in the diagnosis and evaluation of several types of cancer. A complete blood count measures the value of three different types of cells in the blood. The leukocyte count or white blood cell count is a measurement of the total number of white blood cells present in a sample of a patient's blood. A white blood cell differential measures the number of all types of white blood cells in a sample of an individual's blood. These white blood cell counts measure the number of basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils. The red blood cell count measures the number of erythrocytes or red blood cells in the sample of blood. Cancers that affect the bone marrow can cause a low white blood cell count or a low red blood cell count. Some cancers that affect the bone marrow can also lower the number of platelets in the blood. A complete blood count can help diagnose cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.
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Biopsy
Some individuals who are suspected of having cancer may need to undergo a tissue biopsy to determine the underlying cause of their symptoms. A biopsy is a procedure where a sample of tissue is removed from an individual's body and sent to a lab to be examined underneath a microscope. This microscopic examination serves the purpose of revealing abnormal cells that may be cancerous or precancerous. Some biopsies can be performed with an endoscopic procedure, while others are guided with the use of diagnostic imaging like MRIs, CT scans, or ultrasound. The most common parts of the body that are biopsied due to suspected malignancy include the breast, bone marrow, lungs, bladder, lymph nodes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and colon. Depending on the shape, size, characteristics, and location of the abnormality, the patient's physician determines which method is used to carry out the biopsy. Some biopsies of lumps just underneath the skin can be performed with a sterile needle and do not require the use of imaging guidance to carry out. When a needle removes any substance from a mass in an individual's body using a needle, it is referred to as an aspiration biopsy.
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PET Scan
An individual who has symptoms indicative of cancer may need to have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to help rule out or diagnose malignancy in their body. A PET scan is a useful way for a patient's physician to see the chemical activities of different body parts. While PET scans can be used for the diagnosis of many different conditions, it is utilized often for cancer screening and detection. A PET scan uses a substance referred to as a tracer to help highlight areas of the body that have a metabolic rate that differs from the rest of the cells in the body. Instead of searching for a physical mass or abnormality like x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs do, PET scans can show changes in the way cells are functioning. Cancerous cells grow and multiply at a much faster rate than healthy cells. Metabolic rate is the speed at which cells metabolize glucose into ATP or usable energy. The tracer used in PET scans for cancer detection contains glucose, which causes the prospective area with a faster metabolic rate to light up in the image.
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CT Or MRI Scan
When an individual is suspected of having a cancerous mass in their body, their physician may order an MRI or CT scan to help identify or rule out the presence of cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging uses a series of cross-section pictures of the inside of the body that are produced with the use of strong magnets to create a detailed depiction of the patient's organs and structures. MRIs are frequently used for this purpose because they provide more dimension and precision than typical two-dimensional imaging methods like an x-ray. CT scans are another diagnostic imaging method used to diagnose cancer and determine the stage of cancer, as well as the extent of the malignancy. A CT scan is a series of numerous x-rays taken of the patient's body from various angles that are put together in a computer system to create a detailed image of the inside of their body. CT scans are used most often to detect cancer in the chest, neck, head, abdomen, limbs, and pelvis. In some cases, CT scans may be integrated with PET scans to provide a better diagnostic picture.
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Urinalysis
An individual who exhibits symptoms of certain types of cancer may need to have a urinalysis done to aid with their diagnosis. Urinalysis is a laboratory test performed on a patient's urine that measures the number of blood cells, chemicals, and proteins contained within it. The most prevalent symptom among patients affected by cancer in their bladder is referred to as hematuria, which is when an individual has blood spilling into their urine that can be detected by the naked eye or a microscope. A urinalysis can confirm whether discoloration of the urine is caused by hematuria or another mechanism. Certain types of cancer in the body can cause abnormal substances or abnormal quantities of substances to spill into the patient's urine. Newer methods can utilize urinalysis to identify the presence of certain proteins known to be tumor markers for bladder cancer. Abnormal levels of glucose or white blood cells in the urine can also indicate the presence of malignancy in other organs.