Common Tests Used To Diagnose Cancer

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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