Diagnostic Tests

Question 1

PAP Smear

papanicolaou

Answer 1

• changes in cervical cells; presence of cervical cancer; HPV
• normal/negative
• small brush brushed onto the cervix

Question 2

Barium Swallow

Answer 2

• test for head, neck, esophagus cancer
• normal, no abnormalities
• drink a chalky white barium mixture that is slightly radioactive to track and examine digestive tract

Question 3

Colonoscopy

Answer 3

• test for colon cancer
• negative, no abnormalities
• involves low fibre diet prior; colonoscope inserted into rectum; can take biopsies and video at this time (60mins)

Question 4

Mammography

Answer 4

• look for breast cancer, examine lump
• no abnormalities
• 2 xray plates compress a breast in order to get imaging

Question 5

Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap)

Answer 5

• test for cancers involving brain and spinal cord
• normal
• thin hollow neede is inserted between 2 lumbar vertebrae and into the spinal canal; spinal fluid is examined for abnormalities (45mins)

Question 6

Bone Marrow Aspiration

Answer 6

• diagnose blood, bone marrow cancers
• normal bone marrow - 0-5% blasts (greater could be leukemia)
• small incision, then inserts hollow needle through the bone into the bone marrow; bone marrow is examined

Question 7

Computed Tomography (Thorax)

Answer 7

• diagnose lung tumour; find metstasis
• nothing suspicious
• contrast maybe; machine x ray beam will rotate around patient to get images to make a 3D image of body (30sec)

Question 8

MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Answer 8

• detect brain tumour
• nothing suspicious
• contrast maybe; table slides through a large scanning magnet and captures images n multiple sequences (30-40 mins)

Question 9

Ultrasound (Breast)

Answer 9

• examine suspicious lump, breast cancer
• no abnormalities
• wand-like device called a transducer is moved over breast to acquire imaging

Question 10

Colposcopy

Answer 10

• follow up to pos pap test; detect cervical cancer
• no inflam, no abnormal cells
• colposcope inserted into cervix and images are taken; biopsy too (10-20 mins)

Question 11

Bronchoscopy

Answer 11

• diagnose lung infection, disease, cancer; biopsy
• no trouble breathing, clear airways
• bronchoscope inserted via nose or mouth until the bronchi; biopsy

Question 12

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

Answer 12

• colorectal cancer
• no blood, no pain passing feces
• collect samples from 3 bowel movements, take applicator and smear stool onto test card

Question 13

Bone Scintigraphy

Answer 13

• bone mets & cancer
• normal
• radiotracer is given to pt through and injection in arm; takes 4 hours for tracer to settle in bones; it produces gamma radiation which can be turned into an image through SPECT

Question 14

Cystoscopy

Answer 14

• bladder cancer, blockage, cystitis, bladder stones
• no abnormalities
• bladder is filled with sterile solution; instrument equipped with lens is inserted into urethra and moves to bladder

Question 15

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

Answer 15

• prostate cancer
• no growths detected
• doctor will insert gloved lubricated digit into the rectum and try and feel for any bumps, hardenings or abnormalities

Question 16

Multigated Acquisition Cardiac Scan (MUGA)

Answer 16

• see effects of chemo on heart, or LT effects of RT to chest
• 50% or higher
• technician attaches electrodes to pt chest and monitors heart activity; radiotracer injected; gamma camera placed above heart to analyze the radioactive blood cells; images taken

Question 17

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Answer 17

• diagnose certain cancers; cancer met
• less hot spots
• inject radioactive material into vein, 1 hour to travel through body; go through scanner which detects the the radioactive material and creates 3d imaging

Question 18

Laryngoscopy

Answer 18

• biopsy, treat problems, detect early cancer
• no abnormalities
• insertion of flexible or rigind laryngoscope down nose or throat to see vocal chords; may just hold mirror down through and reflect it off a head mirror to see whats going on