 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
|
To find the cause of symptoms, a doctor:
The exams and tests conducted may vary depending on the symptoms. Examination of a sample of tissue (a biopsy) under the microscope is always necessary to confirm a diagnosis of cancer.
Some exams and tests that may be useful are described below:
Physical examination may include visual inspection of the oral and nasal cavities, neck, throat, and tongue using a small mirror and/or lights. The doctor may also feel for lumps on the neck, lips, gums, and cheeks.
Endoscopy is the use of a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope to examine areas inside the body. The type of endoscope the doctor uses depends on the area being examined. For example, a laryngoscope is inserted through the mouth to view the larynx; an esophagoscope is inserted through the mouth to examine the esophagus; and a nasopharyngoscope is inserted through the nose so the doctor can see the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.
Laboratory tests examine samples of blood, urine, or other substances from the body.
X-rays create images of areas inside the head and neck on film.
CT (or CAT) scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the head and neck created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the head and neck.
PET scan uses sugar that is modified in a specific way so it is absorbed by cancer calls and appears as dark areas on the scan.
Biopsy is the removal of a piece tissue. A pathologist studies the tissue under a microscope to make a diagnosis. A biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether a person has cancer.
If the diagnosis is cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Staging may involve an examination under anesthesia (in the operating room), x-rays and other imaging procedures (discussed above), and laboratory tests. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Source: National Cancer Institute - Head and Neck Cancer: Questions and Answers
Last Reviewed: Jun 18, 2009
|
Pierre Lavertu, MD, FRCS(C), FACS Director and Professor Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology Ireland Cancer Center University Hospitals School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University |
|
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) 
|