Cancer Diagnostic Testing

If you have symptoms or a screening test result that suggests you might have cancer, your health-care provider will recommend further testing. This may include a physical exam, blood and urine tests, medical imaging, biopsies, or other procedures. In many cases, several different types of tests are needed to diagnose cancer.

At Mount Sinai Hospital, we have many experts in cancer diagnostic testing.

Some diagnostic tests require preparation. It is very important that you understand and follow all instructions for your specific test. If anything is unclear, ask your health-care provider.

For some tests, such as a colonoscopy or a biopsy that requires surgery, you may need to arrange for a support person to drive you home afterwards.

Types of diagnostic tests

Laboratory tests

Laboratory tests check for levels of certain substances in your blood and urine that point to possible cancer.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests show what is happening inside your body. They can reveal masses or tumours and help physicians determine whether your symptoms are caused by cancer or another condition.

Common imaging tests include computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and X-rays.

Colonoscopy

Colorectal Screening and Diagnosis offers a streamlined process if you need a colonoscopy because of colorectal cancer symptoms or a positive screening test.

Biopsy

If other diagnostic tests suggest you may have cancer, a biopsy is likely needed to confirm the diagnosis.

During a biopsy, a physician removes a small amount of tissue for a pathologist to examine under a microscope. A pathologist is a physician who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues and organs to diagnose disease.

If cancer is diagnosed, the biopsy also provides more information about the specific type of cancer you have. The pathologist records the findings in a pathology report, which is sent to your health-care provider.

There are several different ways to perform a biopsy, depending on the area of the body.

Needle biopsy

A needle biopsy uses a needle to withdraw a small amount of tissue or fluid. It is the most common type of biopsy for examining tissue in the breast, prostate and liver.

Endoscopy

During an endoscopy, a physician inserts a thin tube called an endoscope through your mouth or anus to examine areas inside your body. The physician removes some abnormal tissue, along with some of the surrounding normal tissue, and sends it to a pathologist for testing.

Colonoscopy biopsy

A colonoscopy examines the colon and rectum. A physician inserts a thin tube called an endoscope through the anus, removes any polyps found, and sends them to a pathologist for testing.

Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy examines the airway and lungs. A physician inserts a thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth or nose and down the throat, then removes any abnormal tissue and some of the surrounding normal tissue to send to a pathologist for testing.

Surgical biopsy

During a surgical biopsy, a surgeon makes an incision to remove an area of abnormal cells from your body. These cells are then sent to a pathologist for testing.

Staging

If cancer is found, the next step is determining its cancer. Knowing the stage helps your care team develop your treatment plan. Physicians determine the stage of your cancer based on the tumour's size and location, whether cancer cells are in the lymph nodes, and whether there are cancer cells in other parts of the body.