Diagnosing bone metastasis in lung cancer typically involves a combination of imaging tests. Doctors will usually start with one or more of the following:
- PET scan – Often the go-to imaging test. A slightly radioactive sugar is injected into a vein and collects in cancer cells, making them visible on the scan
- PET/CT Show Full Answer
Diagnosing bone metastasis in lung cancer typically involves a combination of imaging tests. Doctors will usually start with one or more of the following:
- PET scan – Often the go-to imaging test. A slightly radioactive sugar is injected into a vein and collects in cancer cells, making them visible on the scan.
- PET/CT scan – A combination of both techniques, giving a more detailed picture of where cancer may have spread.
- Bone scan – A radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream and collects in the bones, highlighting areas that may contain cancer.
- X-ray – Useful for spotting masses or tumors on bones.
- MRI – Particularly helpful when cancer may have spread to the spine or spinal cord.
- CT scan – Uses X-rays from multiple angles to create a 3D image, helpful for examining bone structure. If imaging results aren't conclusive, a biopsy may be recommended. This involves collecting a small sample of bone cells to be examined in a lab for the presence of cancer cells.
It's worth noting that doctors may also take a blood test to check calcium levels, since bone metastasis can sometimes cause high calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which brings its own set of complications.
Always check with your care team about which combination of tests is right for your specific situation.
April 23
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