The success of your cancer treatment is dependent on the extent of spread of your tumor. In most cases, this determination is largely based on imaging tests and scans. Texas Oncology cancer centers provide the most advanced imaging services available.
Oncologists may order scans using one or more of the following technologies:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans are valuable in staging cancer and planning treatments. CT technology combines x-rays with computers to produce highly detailed cross-sectional pictures of the body.
Various CT technologies area available including Dual Slice, Multi-Slice, and Multi-Slice Wide Bore, which produce scans that enable oncologists to see a patient's entire anatomy. Using these scans, oncologists can more accurately select and target critical anatomical structures, with greater confidence, for precise radiation therapy planning.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is a molecular imaging procedure that generates pictures of the precise location and extent of the cancer. By imaging the molecular and physiological basis of the disease, PET enables physicians to detect abnormal cell growth and activity. This information aids in the early detection and improved treatment of cancer.
PET/CT is a relatively new imaging tool that combines two scan techniques in one - a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan and a CT scan. PET/CT is mainly used for diagnosis, staging or restaging cancer and for evaluation of treatment response. Together the two procedures provide information about the location, nature of and the extent of a tumor. It answers questions such as: where is the tumor, how big is it, is it malignant, benign or due to inflammatory change, and has it spread?
Other cutting-edge imaging technologies used by Texas Oncology medical professionals include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, vascular/interventional radiology, ultrasound, and mammography.
Another service offered in some of our clinics is bone density screening. This is a simple, non-invasive procedure used to detect early signs of osteoporosis and determine rate of bone loss. A bone densitometer uses small amounts of x-ray (about 1/10 of that received during a chest x-ray) to measure the patient's bone mineral density (BMD). With proper screening, osteoporosis can be diagnosed and treated before fractures occur. However, bone density screening does not contribute to cancer staging (classifying the cancer as being at a certain stage of development) or follow-up.