Cancer Detection
Deaconess offers comprehensive screening and diagnostic tests to help with early and accurate diagnosis of cancer. You may have one or many tests throughout your diagnosis and treatment process.
The following departments at Deaconess offer the most technologically-advanced cancer diagnostic tools available. You may undergo testing in one or more of these areas, depending on the type of testing your physician recommends.
PET Scans
PET scan is a highly advanced medical imaging tool. It is most often used to detect a variety of cancers, to determine the extent of the spreading of a cancer, or to evaluate how cancer tumors are responding to treatment.
CT Scans
Computerized tomography (CT) is a highly advanced diagnostic procedure that uses x-ray which is enhanced by a computer. The CT scan can create pictures of areas surrounded by bone and can show less dense tissues like organs and vessels.
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a highly advanced diagnostic technique which combines a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency waves, and computers to produce high quality images of the body's internal tissues. These images help physicians diagnose a particular medical condition.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine is a type of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material (called tracers) to help diagnose and/or treat a variety of conditions or diseases. Nuclear medicine scans give doctors important information about how various parts of the body are working.
EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound)
An EBUS is very similar to a bronchoscopy but it uses a different scope that has an ultrasound function. The ultrasound is useful when the mass is in the wall of the lung, and not visible with just the bronchoscopy. The ultrasound can assess the size and depth of a mass and can also assist the physician with obtaining good biopsy samples.