Diagnostic tools
A thorough and accurate cancer diagnosis is the first step in developing a cancer treatment plan. At City of Hope, your team of blood cancer experts uses sophisticated diagnostic tests and tools to evaluate the disease and plan your individualized treatment. Throughout your treatment at City of Hope, we use imaging and laboratory tests to monitor your response to treatment and modify your plan if needed.
Though diagnostic techniques and technologies used to diagnose blood cancers differ across cancer types, some common diagnostic evaluations available to blood cancer patients at City of Hope include:
Biopsy
During a biopsy, a doctor uses a small needle to remove a sample of tissue or fluid from the body. A pathologist inspects the cells under a microscope to determine the type of blood cancer, growth rate and whether or not the disease has spread. Your physician may obtain a bone marrow biopsy and/or a lymph node biopsy to determine your diagnosis.
Flow cytometry
A flow cytometry test may provide insight into whether or not tumor cell contains a normal or abnormal amount of DNA, and determine the rate at which the cancer is growing. Flow cytometry also may be used as part of the stem cell transplantation process.
Imaging tests
Imaging tests can provide information about the extent of cancer in your body, and the presence of infections or other problems. The following imaging tests may be used in a blood cancer diagnosis:
- 2D echocardiogram (in some cases)
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET scan
- PET/CT scan
- Pulmonary function test (in some cases)
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
Lumbar puncture
A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the lower part of your spinal column to remove cerebrospinal fluid, or to inject medication. A doctor performs a lumbar puncture to determine the extent of blood cancer. Lumbar punctures may also be used to inject chemotherapy drugs to treat blood cancer.
