Diagnostic tests for stomach cancer
.Tests that examine the stomach and esophagus are used to detect and diagnose stomach cancer.
- Physical exam and history
-Blood chemistry studies
-Complete blood count
-Upper endoscopy
-Fecal occult blood test
-Barium swallow
-Biopsy
-CT scan
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.
-A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body.
-An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it.
.A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
-The number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
-The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
-The portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.
-A procedure to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine) to check for abnormal areas.
-An endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is passed through the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus.
-A test to check stool (solid waste) for blood that can only be seen with a microscope.
- Small samples of stool are placed on special cards and returned to the doctor or laboratory for testing
Fecal occult blood test
-A series of x-rays of the esophagus and stomach.
-The patient drinks a liquid that contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound).
-The liquid coats the esophagus and stomach, and x-rays are taken.
-This procedure is also called an upper GI series.
Barium swallow
The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
A biopsy of the stomach is usually done during the endoscopy.
-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.
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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