Diagnosis and Staging of cervical cancer
- If the patients have symptoms of cervical cancer,the doctor will try to find out what’s causing the problems.
Patients may have the following tests:
. Lab tests
. Cervical exam
. Tissue sam
- The doctor scrapes a sample of cells from the cervix.
- For a Pap test, the lab checks the sample for cervical cancer cells or abnormal cells that could become cancer later if not treated.
- For an HPV test, the same sample is tested for HPV infection.
- HPV can cause cell changes and cervical cancer.
- The doctor uses a colposcope to look at the cervix.
- The colposcope combines a bright light with a magnifying lens to make tissue easier to see.
- Biopsy: The removal of tissue to look for cancer cells
The doctor will remove tissue in one of the following ways:
. Punch biopsy
. LEEP
. Endocervical curettage
. Cone biopsy
Punch biopsy: The doctor uses a sharp tool to pinch off small samples of cervical tissue.
LEEP: The doctor uses an electric wire loop to slice off a thin, round piece of cervical tissue.
Endocervical curettage: The doctor uses a curette (a small, spoon-shaped instrument) to scrape a small sample of tissue from the cervical canal. Some doctors may use a thin, soft brush instead of a curette.
Cone biopsy: The doctor removes a cone-shaped sample of tissue. A cone biopsy lets the pathologist look at the tissue beneath the surface of the cervix to learn whether it has abnormal cells.
- A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for cancer cells. In most cases, a biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether cancer is present.
- If the biopsy shows that patient has cancer, doctor will need to learn the extent (stage) of the disease to choose the best treatment option.
- The stage is based on whether the cancer has invaded nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
- Cervical cancer spreads most often to nearby tissues in the pelvis or to lymph nodes. It may also spread to the lungs, liver, or bones.
To study the stage of disease, doctor may order one or more tests:
Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the chest can often show whether cancer has spread to the lungs.
CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of pelvis, abdomen, or chest. A tumor in the liver, lungs, or elsewhere in the body can show up on the CT scan.
MRI: A powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of pelvis and abdomen. MRI can show whether cancer has invaded tissues near the cervix or has spread from the cervix to tissues in the pelvis or abdomen.
The stage is based on where cancer is found
Stage I: Cancer cells are found only in the cervix.
Stage II: The tumor has grown through the cervix and invaded the upper part of the vagina. It may have invaded other nearby tissues but not the pelvic wall (the lining of the part of the body between the hips) or the lower part of the vagina.
Stage III: The tumor has invaded the pelvic wall or the lower part of the vagina. If the tumor is large enough to block one or both of the tubes through which urine passes from the kidneys, lab tests may show that the kidneys aren’t working well.
Stage IV: The tumor has invaded the bladder or rectum. Or, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs.
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