Head and Neck Cancer: Tests after Diagnosis
What tests might I have after being diagnosed?
After a diagnosis of head and neck cancer, you will likely need more tests. These
tests help your healthcare providers learn more about the cancer. They can help show
if it has grown into nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. The test
results help your healthcare providers decide the best ways to treat the cancer. If
you have any questions about these or other tests, be sure to talk with your healthcare
team.
Some of the tests used after diagnosis include:
Imaging tests
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CT scan. In this test, a series of X-rays is used to get pictures of the inside of your body
from many angles. A computer then combines these images to make a detailed 3-D picture
of your insides. CT scans can be used to find out the size of the tumor, exactly where
it is, and if it has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. You may be given a contrast
material before the test to give more detail to the pictures. The contrast is given
by a shot (injection) into your vein, or by a pill or liquid to swallow. The CT scan
may be done to look at the head, neck structures, chest, and lymph nodes.
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PET scan. A PET scan looks at your entire body. A sugar solution that contains a mildly radioactive
material (radiotracer) is put into your blood through a vein in your hand or arm.
Cancer cells use the sugar faster than other cells, so the radioactive material will
collect in them. Then a machine takes pictures of your whole body. The places where
the solution collects show up as "hot spots" on the scan. Cancer cells are more active
and take up more glucose than normal cells. They show up brighter. A PET scan is often
combined with a CT scan and done at the same time on one machine (called a PET-CT
scan). This allows areas that show up on the PET scan to be compared to the more detailed
images of the CT scan. This test is very good for looking for cancer that has spread
from where it first started.
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MRI. This test uses strong magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the inside
of your body on a computer. It's a lot like a CT scan, but it doesn't use X-rays. This
test may be used to look for cancer that's spread to the neck. Gadolinium is a contrast
material that may be injected into a vein before the scan. Your provider make choose
MRI over a CT scan in some instances, such as when you have cranial nerve symptoms.
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Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to make images of the inside of your body. It may be used
to look for swollen lymph nodes in your neck, which can be a sign of cancer spread.
It can also be used to look for cancer that may have spread to the liver.
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Panoramic X-ray. This test is a rotating X-ray of the lower and upper jawbones to check if cancer
has grown into the jawbone or to check your teeth before treatment.
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Modified barium swallow. This is a special test to look at your how well you can swallow different foods and
liquids effectively and safely. The barium is mixed with foods and liquids. When you
swallow, the barium allows pictures to be seen on an X-ray. Fluoroscopy converts X-rays
into video images.
Working with your healthcare provider
Talk with your healthcare provider about which tests you'll have. Make sure to get
ready for the tests as instructed. Be sure you know what the test will be like and
why it's being done. Ask questions and talk about any concerns you have.