How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with lung cancer or other serious lung disease stemming from asbestos exposure? Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis. Get a free copy of our sourcebook, “Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Asbestos Litigation And Your Rights.” A lung cancer diagnosis can be made by a medical professional upon an evaluation of any symptoms, inquiries pertaining to exposure to substances that can cause lung cancer and inquiries pertaining to medical history. Lung cancer is usually first found on a chest X-ray or a CT scan. More tests are done to diagnose non–small cell or small cell lung cancer and to find out whether it is confined to the lung or has spread to other parts of the body. Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs’ law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma caused
Lung cancer is diagnosed through a number of tests to determine if the disease is indeed present and, if so, how advanced it is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). Signs and symptoms of lung cancer do not surface until the cancer is in its advanced stages, often too late to save the victim, so early diagnosis is crucial.
Diagnosis of lung cancer may be made by physical examination, chest X rays, bronchoscopy (see bronchoscope ), or percutaneous needle biopsy (insertion of a fine needle through the skin and into the lung to obtain tissue for study). In many cases definitive diagnosis is made after surgical specimens have been evaluated. Evaluation of suspected sites of metastasis may involve CAT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A special CAT-scanning technique (helical low-dose CAT-scanning) has also been used for initial diagnosis because it can detect small tumors before they have spread.
Doctors use a wide range of diagnostic procedures and tests to diagnose lung cancer. These include… • The history and physical examination may reveal the presence of symptoms or signs that are suspicious for lung cancer. In addition to asking about symptoms and risk factors for cancer development such as smoking, doctors may detect signs of breathing difficulties, airway obstruction, or infections in the lungs. Cyanosis, a bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, that suggests compromised function of the lung. Likewise, changes in the tissue of the nail beds, known as clubbing, may also indicate lung disease. • The chest X-ray is the most common first diagnostic step when any new symptoms of lung cancer are present. The chest X-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the chest as well as a view from the side. Like any X-ray procedure, chest X-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. C
