TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
The following
procedures may be used:
·
Physical exam and history :
An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for
signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history
of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be
taken.
·
Pelvic exam :
An exam of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum. A speculum is inserted into the vagina and the
doctor or nurse looks at the vagina and cervix for signs of
disease. A Pap test of the cervix is usually done. The doctor
or nurse also inserts one or two lubricated, gloved fingers of one hand into the vagina
and places the other hand over the lower abdomen to feel the size, shape, and position of
the uterus and ovaries. The doctor or nurse also inserts a lubricated, gloved
finger into the rectum to feel for lumps or abnormal areas.
 |
| PAP TEST |
·
Pap test:
A procedure to collect cells from the surface of the cervix and vagina. A piece
of cotton, a brush, or a small wooden stick is used to gently scrape cells from
the cervix and vagina. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal. This
procedure is also called a Pap smear.
·
Human papillomavirus (HPV) test :
A laboratory test used to check DNA or RNA for certain types of HPV infection. Cells are
collected from the cervix and DNA or RNA from the cells is checked to find out
if an infection is caused by a type of HPV that is linked to cervical cancer.
This test may be done using the sample of cells removed during a Pap test. This
test may also be done if the results of a Pap test show certain abnormal
cervical cells.
·
Endocervical curettage :
A procedure to collect cells or tissue from the cervical canal using a curette (spoon-shaped instrument). Tissue samples
are taken and checked under a microscope for signs of cancer. This procedure is
sometimes done at the same time as a colposcopy.
·
Colposcopy:
A procedure in which a colposcope (a lighted, magnifying instrument) is
used to check the vagina and cervix for abnormal areas. Tissue samples may be
taken using a curette (spoon-shaped instrument) or a brush and checked under a
microscope for signs of disease.
·
Biopsy :
If abnormal cells are found in a Pap test, the doctor may do a biopsy. A sample
of tissue is cut from the cervix and viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. A biopsy that
removes only a small amount of tissue is usually done in the doctor’s office. A
woman may need to go to a hospital for a cervical cone biopsy (removal of a larger, cone-shaped
sample of cervical tissue).
tests
to find out if cancer cells have spread within the cervix or to other parts of
the body.
After diagnosis is is advisable to test if the cancer cells has
spread within the cervix or to other parts of the body. The process used to
find out if cancer has spread within the cervix or to other parts of the body is
called staging. The information gathered from the staging
process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know
the stage in order to plan treatment.
The following
tests and procedures may be used in the staging process:
·
CT scan (CAT scan):
A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body,
taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to
an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is
also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial
tomography.
·
PET scan (positron emission tomography
scan): A procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The
PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a
picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show
up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more
glucose than normal cells do.
·
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging):
A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of
detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called
nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
·
Ultrasound exam:
A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off
internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body
tissues called a sonogram. This picture can be printed to be looked at
later.
·
Chest x-ray :
An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy
beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas
inside the body.
·
Cystoscopy :
A procedure to look inside the bladder and urethra to check for abnormal areas. A cystoscope is inserted through the urethra into
the bladder. A cystoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and
a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to
remove tissue samples, which are checked under a microscope for signs of cancer.
·
Laparoscopy :
A surgical procedure to look at the organs inside the abdomen to check for signs of disease. Small incisions (cuts) are made in the wall of the
abdomen and alaparoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted
into one of the incisions. Other instruments may be inserted through the same
or other incisions to perform procedures such as removing organs or taking
tissue samples to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.
·
Pretreatment surgical staging: Surgery (an operation) is done to find out if the
cancer has spread within the cervix or to other parts of the body. In some
cases, the cervical cancer can be removed at the same time.
Pretreatment surgical staging is usually done only as part of a clinical trial.
The results of these tests are viewed together with the results of
the original tumor biopsy to determine the cervical cancer stage.
ways
that cancer spreads in the body.
Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:
·
Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into
nearby areas.
·
Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting
into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
·
Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the
blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.
The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if cervical cancer spreads to the lung, the cancer cells in the lung are actually cervical cancer cells. The disease is metastatic cervical cancer, not lung cancer
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