Cancer - Diagnostic Examination

CANCER Diagnostic Examinations

Diagnostic Examinations are done to: ‫ ﭻ‬1. Determine the presence of tumor and

its extent. ‫ ﭻ‬2. Identify possible spread (metastasis) of disease or invasion of other body tissues. ‫ ﭻ‬3. Evaluate the function of involved and uninvolved body systems and organs. ‫ ﭻ‬4. Obtain tissue and cells for analysis, including evaluation of tumor stage and grade.

Tumor Marker Identification ‫ ﭺ‬Description: Analysis of substances found in blood or other body fluids that are made by the tumor or by in response to tumor

‫ ﭺ‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫ ﭺ‬Breast ‫ ﭺ‬Colon ‫ ﭺ‬Lung ‫ ﭺ‬Ovarian ‫ ﭺ‬Testicular ‫ ﭺ‬Prostate Cancer

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) ‫ ﭽ‬Description: Use of magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to create sectioned images of various body structures.

‫ ﭽ‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫ ﭽ‬Neurologic ‫ ﭽ‬Pelvic ‫ ﭽ‬Abdominal ‫ ﭽ‬Thoracic Cancers

Computed Tomography (CT) Description: Use of narrowbeam x-ray to scan successive layers of tissue for crosssectional view.

Diagnostic Uses: Neurologic Pelvic Skeletal Abdominal Thoracic Cancers

Fluroscopy Description: Uses of X-ray that identify contrast in body tissue densities; may involve the use of contrast agents.

Diagnostic Uses: Skeletal Lung Gastrointestinal Cancers

Ultrasonography (Ultrasound) ‫ ﭼ‬Description: High-frequency sound waves echoing off body tissues are converted electronically into images; used to asses tissue deep within the body.

‫ ﭼ‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫ ﭼ‬Abdominal ‫ ﭼ‬Pelvic Cancers

Endoscopy ‫ﺕ‬Description: Direct visualization of body cavity or passageway by insertion of an endoscope into the body cavity or opening; allows tissue biopsy, fluid aspiration, and excision of small tumors; both diagnostic and

‫ﺕ‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫ﺕ‬Bronchial ‫ﺕ‬Gastrointestinal Cancers

Nuclear Medicine Imaging ۞ Description: Uses intravenous injection or ingestion of radioisotope substances followed by imaging of tissues that have concentrated the radioisotopes.

۞ Diagnostic Uses: ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞

Bone Liver Kidney Spleen Brain Thyroid Cancers

Positron Emission Tomography ( PET) ۩Description:

Through the use of a tracer; provides black and white or color-coded images of the biologic activity of a particular area, rather than it’s structure; used in detection of cancer or it’s response to treatment.

۩Diagnostic Uses: ۩ Lung ۩ Colon ۩ Liver ۩ Pancreatic ۩ Head and Neck ۩ Hodgkin and Non-

Hodgkin ۩ Lymphoma and Melanoma Cancers

PET Fusion ‫ ۝‬Description: Use of a PET scanner and a CT scanner in one machine to provide an image combining anatomic detail, spatial resolution, and functional metabolic abnormalities.

‫ ۝‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫۝‬

The same as PET.

Radioimmunoconjugates ‫ ﭹ‬Description: Monoclonal antibodies are labeled with a radioisotope and injected intravenously into the patient; the antibodies that aggregate at the tumor site are visualized with scanner.

‫ ﭹ‬Diagnostic Uses: ‫ ﭹ‬Colorectal ‫ ﭹ‬Breast ‫ ﭹ‬Ovarian ‫ ﭹ‬Head and Neck ‫ ﭹ‬Lymphoma and

Melanoma Cancers

Nursing Responsibilities: ‫ﺖ‬Have a complete history and

physical examination. ‫ﺖ‬Relieve patients anxiety through: *Explaining the test to be performed. *The sensations likely to be experienced. *Patients role in the test procedure.

Nursing Responsibilities: ‫ﺖ‬Encourage the patient and family to voice their fears about test results. ‫ﺖ‬Support the family throughout the test period. ‫ﺖ‬Reinforce and clarify information conveyed by the physician. ‫ﺖ‬Encourage patient and family to communicate and share concerns and to discuss their questions and concerns with each other.