TEST |
PURPOSE |
PROCEDURE (What Happens) |
Biopsy |
Used to find out whether a tumor or abnormality is
cancer. Benign means it is not cancer. Malignant
means that it is cancer. |
A doctor removes a sample from a person using one of two ways: with a
long needle (needle biopsy) or by making a small cut (surgical biopsy). |
Blood test |
Checks the blood to see whether the balance of the cells
and chemicals is normal |
A nurse or technician inserts a needle into a vein, usually in the arm. Then
he or she draws blood. |
Bone marrow
aspiration |
Collects a small sample of cells from inside a bone to be
examined under a microscope |
A needle is used to remove a small sample of tissue from a bone (usually
the hip bone). |
CAT scan or
CT scan
(Computerized
axial tomography) |
Uses
x-rays and a computer to produce threedimensional
(3-D) images of the inside of the body |
The patient lies flat on a table, which moves through a large tube while a
series of x-rays is taken. |
MRI
(Magnetic
resonance
imaging) |
Uses radio and magnetic waves to make images of
organs and other tissues inside the body |
The patient lies flat on a table, which moves through a large tube while an
MRI machine scans the body for several minutes. |
PET scan
(Positron
emission
tomography) |
Uses computerized pictures of areas inside the body to
find cancer cells |
The patient gets an injection and then a machine takes computerized
pictures of areas inside the body. |
Spinal tap
(Lumbar
puncture) |
Collects a sample of the fluid inside the spine to be
examined under a microscope |
A needle is used to remove fluid from the spine in the lower back. |
Ultrasound
(Ultrasonography) |
Uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of
internal organs and other tissues inside the body |
A technician moves a small handheld device over an area on the
patient's body. An image appears on the computer screen. |
X-ray |
Takes a picture of the inside of the body using highenergy
waves |
The patient is placed in front of the x-ray machine or lies on a table. |