Overview Of Tests Used To Diagnose Lung Cancer

A suspicion of lung cancer (LC) often emerges as the result of an abnormality discovered on X-rays taken for unrelated circumstances (e.g. in preparation for surgery). Once suspected, a number of tests are usually required to produce a definitive diagnosis of the disease. During the initial testing phase, your doctor will focus on identifying whether the abnormality is a tumor. He or she will then try to determine whether it is benign or malignant. If the latter case is true, your physician will perform subsequent tests to identify whether the cancerous cells have metastasized.

In this article, we’ll describe the most common tests doctors use to diagnose lung cancer. The first phase of testing rarely produces a definite diagnosis. Instead, the results either strengthen or weaken the doctor’s suspicion that a tumor exists.

Chest X-Rays And Computerized Tomography (CT) Scans

Your physician will first look through your medical history to determine whether there are preconditions and risk factors that suggest the potential for lung cancer. A physical examination will further reveal signs of LC. After a physical exam, chest X-rays are taken so your doctor can identify any abnormal masses or larger than normal lymph nodes. It’s worth highlighting that X-rays are inconclusive. They can show masses, but do not necessarily suggest a tumor. Moreover, they can miss tumors entirely.

Conventional CT scans can show more detail within the chest area than X-ray images. A more advanced approach is to use helical CT scanning technology in which the images are taken by a scanner that rotates around your body. The images are three-dimensional. However, while a CT scan is more accurate than an X-ray, it cannot produce a final diagnosis. For that, a tissue sample is needed.

Sputum Cytology

One of the easiest ways to acquire a tissue sample is through sputum cytology. In cases where the patient is coughing up sputum, a doctor can retrieve a portion to identify cancerous cells. The limitation of this approach is that it can only used to identify tumors in the patient’s air passages. What’s more, there is a chance that cancerous cells may be missed.

Bronchoscopy And Needle Biopsy

A common approach to retrieving a tissue sample from the abnormal mass is through bronchoscopy. Your doctor (or a specialist) will insert a tube-like instrument called a bronchoscope down your throat and into your air passages. A small camera on the tip of the instrument is used to help the doctor view the internal structures. A tiny piece of tissue is then extracted for further analysis.

If a suspected tumor is located in an area that is unreachable with a bronchoscope, a needle biopsy must be performed. A needle is inserted directly into your chest wall while CT imaging provides visualization for your physician. A small portion of cancerous tissue is retrieved for study.

Lung cancer that is diagnosed quickly can be treated more effectively than would be the case if the disease were to metastasize. The challenge is to note the symptoms and communicate them as early as possible to your doctor. Doing so can dramatically improve your chances of survival.

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