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Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Explore cancer diagnosis and staging processes that guide personalized and effective treatment plans.

Learn how childhood cancer is diagnosed through exams, blood tests, imaging, biopsies, and molecular testing. Understand preparation, procedures, and result interpretation.

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Cancer: Diagnosis and Tests

Initial Screening and Tests

Since childhood cancer is rare, there are no routine cancer screening tests recommended for children with average risk. Diagnosis typically begins when a parent or doctor notices unusual signs, followed by an initial physical exam and blood work.

  • Physical Exam: The doctor will check for unusual lumps, swelling, or signs like paleness, abnormal bruising, or enlarged lymph nodes. They also ask about the child’s recent health and family history.
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC): This is a simple blood test that measures the red cells, white cells, and platelets. Abnormal counts, like too many white cells or too few red cells, may suggest a blood cancer like leukemia.
  • Tumor Marker Tests: These blood or urine tests look for specific chemicals produced by certain cancer cells.

Imaging Techniques Used

Imaging scans allow doctors to see inside the body to locate tumors and check if cancer has spread, a process called staging.

  • Ultrasound: This painless procedure uses sound waves to create pictures of internal organs, often used to check for tumors in the abdomen. A gel is placed on the skin, and a device is rubbed over the area.
  • CT and MRI Scans: Both create detailed pictures of organs and soft tissues. An MRI uses magnetic fields and is best for the brain and spine. A CT scan uses specialized X-rays. For both, the child must lie very still, which may require sedation.
  • X-rays: Simple X-rays are often used to look for tumors in the chest or damage to the bones.
  • PET Scans: These scans use a small amount of radioactive sugar absorbed by active cancer cells to show where the disease is in the body.
cancer

Definitive Diagnostic Procedures

To confirm cancer, a small sample of tissue or fluid must be collected and examined under a microscope. This is often the only way to be certain.

  • Biopsy Procedures
    Tissue biopsy remains the gold standard for cancer diagnosis, where pathologists examine cellular samples under microscopy. Common approaches include needle biopsy (core or fine-needle), endoscopic biopsy, and surgical excision biopsy, providing histopathological confirmation essential for treatment planning.
  • Advanced Imaging Technologies
    Modern imaging modalities, including PET-CT scans, contrast-enhanced MRI, and specialized mammography, enable precise tumor localization and staging. These technologies provide detailed anatomical and metabolic information crucial for determining disease extent and monitoring treatment response.
  • Laboratory and Molecular Testing
    Comprehensive blood tests (tumor markers, CBC), flow cytometry for hematologic malignancies, and advanced molecular profiling (genomic sequencing, immunohistochemistry) identify specific cancer subtypes and actionable mutations for targeted therapy.
  • Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Techniques
    Procedures like colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, and laparoscopy allow direct visualization of internal organs with simultaneous tissue sampling. These methods provide both diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic capabilities in certain cases.
  • Liquid Biopsy and Emerging Technologies
    Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis through blood samples offers non-invasive monitoring and detection of genetic mutations. This innovative approach enables real-time treatment response assessment and early recurrence detection.

Test Preparation and Results

The medical team will take steps to make the child comfortable during procedures, which may involve distraction, local anesthetics, or sedation.

Imaging Tests (CT, MRI, PET Scans)

  • Preparation: Use child-friendly explanations (a camera that takes pictures inside). For young children, sedation may be needed. Fastinis g is required for contrast studies.
  • Support: Bring comfort items, practice with toy scanners. The parent can often stay during the scan.
  • Results: Pediatric radiologists specialize in reading children’s scans. Results are discussed within 1-2 days with the family.

Blood Tests and Bone Marrow Aspiration

  • Preparation: Use numbing cream beforehand. Child life specialists help with distraction techniques.
  • Procedure: Quick blood draw or bone marrow sample from the hip bone under sedation.
  • Results: Initial findings in 24 hours; complete analysis in 3-5 days determines cancer type and treatment plan.

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

  • Preparation: Explain it as a special back medicine. Sedation is typically used.
  • Procedure: Quick fluid sample from the lower back while the child curls up.
  • Results: Checks for cancer cells in spinal fluid – available within 48 hours.

Biopsy Procedures

  • Preparation: Full anesthesia for comfort. Nothing to eat or drink before the procedure.
  • Recovery: Usually same-day discharge with pain management.
  • Results: Pathology report takes 5-7 days, confirming diagnosis and guiding treatment.

Understanding Your Child’s Results

The final diagnosis comes from the pathologist, who looks at the tissue sample under a microscope. They check for cancer cells, their type, and specific genetic changes.

  • Leukemia: The results may show immature blood cells called blasts in the blood or bone marrow. Advanced tests like flow cytometry help define the exact subtype of leukemia.
  • Solid Tumors: The biopsy confirms whether the mass is benign or malignant. Additional genetic tests on the tumor help predict how well the cancer will respond to certain medicines.

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Table of Contents

  • Overview and Definition
  • Symptoms and Causes
  • Diagnosis and Staging
  • Treatment Details
  • Medical Center

We're Here to Help.
Get in Touch.

Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What tests are used to diagnose childhood cancer?

Diagnosis usually involves a physical exam, a complete blood count (CBC), imaging tests like X-rays, Ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans, and often a biopsy or bone marrow test to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

For simple tests like X-rays, no special preparation is needed. For biopsies or scans that require sedation, your child will need to stop eating or drinking for a few hours before the procedure. Distraction and honest conversation can help reduce their anxiety.

Procedures like the bone marrow test or a biopsy are typically done while the child is given sedation or general anesthesia, which causes temporary sleep and prevents pain during the procedure. The site may be sore for a couple of days afterward.

Imaging tests can show if a mass is present, but the biopsy is often the definitive and most accurate test for confirming cancer. Specialized genetic tests on the biopsy sample provide highly accurate details about the specific type of cancer.

Advanced tests like MRI, PET scans, or a spinal tap are used after the initial blood work and physical exam suggest a high risk of cancer. These tests are necessary to find the exact location of the tumor and determine if the disease has spread.

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