Staging
If the biopsy shows that cancer is present, your doctor needs to know the
stage
(extent) of your disease to plan the best treatment. The stage is based on the
size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of
the body.
Staging
may require lab tests. It also may involve
endoscopy.
The doctor uses a
thin, lighted tube
(endoscope)
to check your throat, windpipe, and lungs. The
doctor inserts the endoscope through your nose or mouth. Local anesthesia is
used to ease your discomfort and prevent you from gagging. Some people also may
have a mild sedative. Sometimes the doctor uses general anesthesia to put a
person to sleep. This exam may be done in a doctor's office, an outpatient
clinic, or a hospital.
The doctor may order one or more
imaging
tests to learn whether the cancer has
spread:
-
Dental x-rays: An x-ray of your entire mouth can show whether cancer has spread
to the jaw.
-
Chest x-rays: Images of your chest and lungs can show whether cancer has spread
to these areas.
-
CT scan:
An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed
pictures of your body. You may receive an injection of dye. Tumors in the
mouth, throat, neck, or elsewhere in the body show up on the CT scan.
-
MRI: A powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures
of your body. The doctor can view these pictures on a monitor and can print
them on film. An MRI can show whether oral cancer has spread.
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