Imaging/X-Ray

Some tests used to diagnose head and neck cancer include:

X-rays. Your doctor may do a simple X-ray first. You may also have a chest X-ray if you are at risk for lung cancer.

Various types of endoscopy. Endoscopy is the use of a thin, lighted tube to look at areas inside the body. For example, a laryngoscope can be inserted through the mouth to see the back of the throat, or larynx. An esophagoscope is used to examine the esophagus, the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach. A nasopharyngoscope can view the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.

Computerized tomography (CT scan). This procedure takes a series of x-rays across various sections of the body, and uses a computer to enhance the resulting pictures. Sometimes a dye (contrast) is injected to help provide extra detail, which allows doctors to see the size, shape and location of any tumor and the surrounding area. The contrast dye in injected using a needle into an arm or hand vein called an intravenous line.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI pictures use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to allow computers to assemble very detailed pictures of cancers, particularly in the soft tissues of the head and neck. A dye is sometimes used with MRI also.

PET scan. A nurse injects a small amount of a radioactive tracer through a needle into an arm or hand vein. Cancer cells absorb this tracer and it appears as dark areas on the scan. This test is useful to locate the cancer and see if it has spread to lymph nodes.

More on Cancers of Head and Neck

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.