Detection & Diagnosis

A person’s history and their physical state of health helps to reveal any symptoms or signs that are suspicious for lung cancer. If a person smokes, doctors may detect early signs of breathing difficulties for instance, airway obstruction, or lung infections. Cyanosis is also detected, a bluish color of the skin and nail beds membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood stream, showing that the air flow from the lungs is lacking.

 

 Aids in Detection:

 

If a patient has a smoking history

Exposure to environmental and occupational substances

Family history of cancer

 

The chest X-ray is the most common and is the first diagnostic step when any symptoms of lung cancer become noticed. The chest X-ray uses a view from the back around to the front of the chest as well as views from the sides. Chest X-rays may reveal suspicious areas in the lungs but cannot determine if they are cancerous.

 

CT (computerized axial tomography scan, or CAT scan). A CT scan of the chest are done when X-rays are do not show enough detail or information about the extent or location of a tumor or cancer. CT scans are X-ray procedures that combine multiple images with the use of a computer to various views of the body. The images are taken by a donut or bagel shaped machine at at different angles around the body.

CT Scan Video

 

CT scans are more sensitive than standard chest X-rays especially in the detection of lungs.

They expose the patient to a minimal amount of radiation, which aides to one of the positives of this detection test. The most common side effects are itching, a rash, or hives that generally disappear rather quickly.

 

A technique called a low-dose helical CT scan (or spiral CT scan) is sometimes used in screening for lung cancers. This procedure requires a special type of CT scanner and has been shown to be an effective tool for the identification of small or minute lung cancers, 90% of spots in the lungs are not cancerous but require up to two years of testing.

Chest x-ray —a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones

Sputum cytology—a test that examines of a sample of mucus from the lungs

Spiral CT—a special type of x-ray of the lungs

Biopsy —removal of a sample of lung tissue to be tested for cancer cells.

Bronchoscopy —a thin, lighted tube inserted into the mouth or nose and through the windpipe to look into the breathing passages; cells or tissue samples are collected.

Needle aspiration —a needle inserted through the chest into the tumor to remove a sample of tissue

Thoracentesis —use of a needle to remove a sample of the fluid around the lungs to check for cancer cells

Thoracotomy —surgery to open the chest and examine lung tissue

 

 

Stages of Lung Cancer

 

Stages from I to IV in order of severity:

 

In stage I or Limited stage is when the cancer is confined to the lung.

In stages II and III, the cancer is confined to the chest (with larger and more invasive tumors classified as stage III).

Stage IV or an extensive stage, the cancer has spread from the chest to other parts of the body.