Lung Cancer Staging from the Swedish Medical Center

/Home/Lung Cancer Healthcare and Treatment/Lung Cancer Diagnosis/Lung Cancer Staging

Staging
When a diagnosis of lung cancer is confirmed, determining the stage or extent of spread of the cancer is essential in order to understand treatment options or interpret published cancer treatment information. Determining the stage of lung cancer may require many tests, which often include the following:

Mediastinoscopy: A mediastinoscopy is a procedure that can indicate whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest. During a mediastinoscopy, a surgeon inserts a mediastinoscope (lighted tube) through a small incision in the neck while a patient is under general anesthesia. This mediastinoscope allows the surgeon to examine the center of the chest (mediastinum) and nearby lymph nodes, as well as remove a tissue sample.

Computed Topography or CT Scan: A CT scan is a technique for imaging body tissues and organs, during which X-ray transmissions are converted to detailed images, using a computer to synthesize X-ray data. A CT scan is conducted with a large machine positioned outside the body that can rotate to capture detailed images of the oranges and tissues inside the body. This method is more sensitive and precise than the chest x-ray.

Magnetic Resonance Imagery or MRI: During MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

Positron emission tomography (PET): Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning has been used to improve the detection of cancer in lymph nodes. One characteristic of living tissue is the metabolism of sugar. Prior to a PET scan, a substance containing a type of sugar attached to a radioactive isotope (a molecule that spontaneously emits radiation) is injected into the patient’s vein. The cancer cells “take up” the sugar and attached isotope, which emits positively charged, low energy radiation (positrons). The positrons react with electrons in the cancer cells, which creates the production of gamma rays. The gamma rays are then detected by the PET machine, which transforms the information into a picture. If no gamma rays are detected in the scanned area, it is unlikely that the mass in question contains living cancer cells. In one clinical study, PET scanning detected 85% of lymph nodes involved with cancer, which was significantly better than the detection rate with CT scanning.

Bone Scan: A bone scan is used to determine whether cancer has spread to the bones. Prior to a bone scan, a surgeon injects a small amount of radioactive substance into a vein. This substance travels through the bloodstream and collects in areas of abnormal bone growth. An instrument called a scanner measures the radioactivity levels in these areas and records them on x-ray film.

All new treatment information is categorized according to whether patients have small cell or non-small cell lung cancer and according to the stage of disease. To learn more about the general treatment of lung cancer and current results achieved with new treatments, select small cell or non-small cell lung cancer.