Small Cell Lung Cancer Stages: An Overview
After
small cell lung cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the chest or to other parts of the body.
The process used to determine if cancer has spread within the chest or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of
lung cancer. It is important to know the stage in order to plan
lung cancer treatment.
Staging Small Cell Lung Cancer
The following tests and procedures may be used in the staging process:
- Bone marrow biopsy
- CT scan
- MRI
- Radionuclide bone scan
- PET scan.
Bone Marrow Biopsy
Bone marrow biopsy involves the removal of a small piece of bone and bone marrow by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist views both the bone and the bone marrow samples under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.
CT Scan
CT scan (CAT scan) of brain, chest, and abdomen is a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
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