Diagnosis

Diagnostic radiologists are the front line for early detection of cancer, which can lead to more effective and accurate diagnosis and treatment and a greater likelihood that the patientīs cancer will be cured. Radiologic techniques include mammograms, MRIs, CAT scans, and ultrasounds.

Radiologists perform needle biopsies, guided by ultrasound and CAT scans, placing thin needles into tumors in various parts of the body, gathering tissue samples for pathologists to examine for accurate diagnosis. Also, by performing CAT scans to outline a tumor, diagnostic radiologists help radiation oncologists determine the precise area that is to receive radiation treatment, preventing the adverse effects of radiation from affecting healthy tissue.

Pathologists examine samples of body tissues and fluids under the microscope, searching for signs of disease. They then provide physicians and patients with a specific diagnosis, including whether cancer is present, and if so, what type of cancer it is and whether it has spread. This information is then shared with other members of the cancer team, who work together to determine the best course of treatment.