| Lung cancer is diagnosed by several different | | | | are also metabolically active, so a positive PET Scan |
| methods and investigation is prompted as a result of | | | | does not mean you have lung cancer. |
| routine x-rays, or investigation due to persistent | | | | Bronchoscopy |
| coughing or coughing up blood. This obviously needs | | | | This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure |
| to be confirmed so a variety of diagnostic tools can | | | | whereby a flexible fiber optic tool is passed down |
| be used. | | | | into the major airways. This involves passing a flexible |
| Typically, diagnostic tools and procedures include: | | | | tube down through either the nose of the mouth and |
| CT Scan | | | | then washings or biopsies can be taken for further |
| PET Scan | | | | analysis. |
| Bronchoscopy | | | | Needle Biopsy |
| Needle Biopsy | | | | Here a surgeon will use a CT Scan to direct them in |
| Surgical biopsy | | | | the insertion of a needle into the abnormality's |
| These tests may be used in isolation but usually they | | | | location within the lung. The needle is used to remove |
| are applied in combination, including using all of them. | | | | some of the tissue associated with the abnormality |
| CT Scan | | | | and is then subjected to further analysis to |
| CT stands for Computed Tomography and uses | | | | determine whether it is cancer and malignant. |
| x-rays to provide an anatomic detail of the patient. It | | | | Surgical Biopsy |
| is non-invasive and is risk-free and pain-free. | | | | When a tumor is in an inaccessible location or is |
| PET Scan | | | | perhaps, too small to allow a needle biopsy to take |
| PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography and is | | | | place, then a surgical biopsy is required. This involves |
| a non-invasive diagnostic tool which looks at the | | | | an incision between two ribs and the removal of part |
| metabolic activity which is occurring in the patient's | | | | of the lung tissue upon which the tumor is located. |
| body. Cancer is metabolically active and stands out | | | | Once removed, the tissue is analyzed further at the |
| amongst tissue which is less so. PET Scans are an | | | | pathology lab to determine its origin. |
| excellent tool for determining whether the | | | | Post Diagnosis: "Staging" |
| abnormality is cancerous (or malignant). | | | | Once a diagnosis of lung cancer has been confirmed |
| The procedure involves an injection of a glucose | | | | the next step in the process is to determine what |
| solution which is laced with a mildly radioactive tracer. | | | | stage of the disease the patient has. Staging refers |
| The metabolically active cancer uses glucose to grow | | | | to how much cancer the patient has actually got and |
| and takes it up so it is highlighted when we perform | | | | the location within their body of a tumor or tumors. |
| the scan. Typically, the results of the PET Scan are | | | | By staging the cancer, your doctor is able to |
| fused with those of the CT Scan to identify exactly | | | | determine the most appropriate course of treatment |
| where the metabolic activity is taking place within the | | | | depending on whether the tumor size (T), whether it |
| lungs. As the lungs are primarily composed of air, this | | | | has spread to the lymp nodes (N) and whether it has |
| is metabolically inert so the tumor will immediately | | | | spread elsewhere within the body or metastasized |
| stand out, if indeed there is one. You should know | | | | (M). |
| that areas of the lungs which are inflamed or infected | | | | |