Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

In case of suspicion of cancer of the lungs the person is made to take detailed medical check up so as to check all the symptoms of the condition and to assess the risk factors. The patient’s medical history is also taken with the total physical examination. The doctor checks the person’s throat in case of coughing or hoarseness and will also observe the patients breathing pattern with the noise made. But this doesn’t mean that the physical; examination is conclusive one.

The bronchi are examined with a bronchoscope and the test conducted is known as Bronchoscopy. Local anesthesia is given before the test at the back of throat. The cells are then taken out from the bronchi walls and examined under the microscope to see and cancer cells. The process is known as biopsy and will confirm the cancer with the presence of cancer cells.

The doctor can even suspect cancer of lungs in case the patient has history of heavy smoking or any occupational exposure. The masses in the lungs can be checked with chest X-ray. CT scans and MRI will give detailed in formation about the location, size and shape of the cancer. With computed tomography one can clearly see the small nodules which are not possible with X-ray. It will also reveal whether the lymph nodes are enlarged or not and if its there then biopsy is suggested to check the inflammation in the area.

In some patients the cancer might have metastasized in the lymph glands of neck. Study of sputum is also done. Lung biopsy is the more effective and definite tool to check the presence of cancer cells in lungs. Surgical biopsy can be done and the part of tumor surgically removed is studied under the lab. By this the cancer type and its stages can be determined.