Diagnosis
Saint Francis Medical Center's Cancer Institute, affiliated with M. D. Anderson Physicians Network® and approved to offer the M. D. Anderson Cancer Manager® program, uses various tests and procedures to diagnose cancer-related disorders, including:
Many kinds of blood and urine tests are used to help diagnose cancer, follow its development and monitor a patient's response to treatment.
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure use to look inside the body, usually through the mouth or anus, using a small lighted, flexible tube called an endoscope.
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves very small incisions in the abdomen using a specialized instrument called a laparscope.
Mammography detects tumors or other abnormalities of breasts through digital and X-ray imaging. Mammography can be used either for screening or for diagnostic purposes in evaluating a breast lump.
Nuclear medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials that are attracted to specific organs, bones and tissues and emit gamma rays that can be detected externally by special types of cameras, such as a P.E.T. scanner.
Positron emission tomography (P.E.T.) images are combined with computerized tomography (CT) images into a single scan to view tumor location, shape, size and metabolic activity simultaneously.
Physical examinations allow doctors to feel for lumps under and look for abnormalities on the skin's surface.
Radiography uses X-rays to capture images of the body's internal structures on a specially sensitized film.
Surgical biopsy involves the removal of tissues, cells or fluids from the body for examination.
During thoracoscopy, tiny incisions are made in the chest wall and an endoscope is used to view the interior of the lung and remove small pieces of tissue.
This test uses high-frequency sound waves to capture internal images.
For more information on Saint Francis' Cancer Institute, call 573-334-2230 or e-mail sfmc@sfmc.net.