HD Quiz 14: Diagnosing Cancer: Lab tests, Imaging, and Biopsy

In the exfoliative cytology method:

Cells are collected after they have been shed by the body ("spontaneous exfoliation") or manually scraped or brushed off a body surface ("mechanical exfoliation").

Bone marrow has a fluid portion and a:

More solid portion.

In a core needle biopsy, a small cylinder or:

"core" of tissue is removed.

Bronchial washings or brushings are an example of mechanical exfoliation, because:

A bronchoscope is inserted into the airway and is used to "wash" or "brush" cells from the surface of a suspicious lesion.

Cancer diagnostic test examples include:

A complete blood count (CBC) and a urinalysis; tumor markers may be measured.

A core needle biopsy is also called:

A core biopsy.

Results of an SLNB test can help:

A doctor determine the stage of the cancer and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Fine needle biopsy:

A fine needle biopsy is also called a fine needle aspiration (FNA).

A core biopsy uses:

A needle that is larger than the needle used in FNA.

In bone marrow aspiration, a doctor uses:

A needle to withdraw a sample of the fluid portion.

A sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB):

A procedure in which the sentinel lymph node is identified, removed, and examined to determine whether cancer cells are present.

A tumor marker is:

A substance found in tissue, blood, or other body fluids that may be a sign of cancer.

To perform a sentinel lymph node biopsy:

A surgeon injects a radioactive substance, a blue dye, or both, near the tumor to locate the position of the sentinel lymph node.

A fine needle biopsy uses:

A very thin needle and a syringe to withdraw a small amount of fluid and very small pieces of tissue from the tumor.

The peritoneal fluid can be collected and:

Analyzed for the presence of malignant cells.

A complete blood count (CBC) and a urinalysis are:

Basic blood and urine tests that reveal a lot about cell counts and other information.

Examples of tumor markers include:

CA-125 (in ovarian cancer), CA 15-3 (in breast cancer), CEA (in colon cancer), AFP (in liver cancer), and PSA (in prostate cancer).

A negative SLNB result suggests that:

Cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.

A positive SLNB result indicates that:

Cancer is present in the sentinel lymph node and may be present in other nearby lymph nodes (called regional lymph nodes) and, possibly, other organs.

"mechanical exfoliation"

Cells collected that have been manually scraped or brushed off a body surface.

"spontaneous exfoliation"

Cells collected that have been shed by the body.

After a small incision is made during the sentinel lymph node biopsy, the sentinel node is then:

Checked for the presence of cancer cells by a pathologist.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are procedures to:

Collect and examine bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue inside larger bones.

Endoscopic biopsy:

During endoscopy, tools can be inserted through the endoscope in order to remove a tissue sample to send to the lab and find out if cancer is present.

A special kind of lab test called __________ cytology may be done to:

Exfoliative; help diagnose a cancer.

Excisional or incisional biopsy:

In this type of biopsy, a surgeon cuts through the skin to remove the entire tumor (called an excisional biopsy) or a small part of a large tumor (called an incisional biopsy).

In a bone marrow biopsy, a:

Larger needle is used to take a sample of the solid part.

Regional lymph nodes:

Lymph nodes near the sentinel lymph node

In most cases, doctors need to do a biopsy in order to:

Make a definitive diagnosis of cancer.

Once the sentinel lymph node is located (in a sentinel lymph node biopsy), the surgeon:

Makes a small incision (about 1⁄2 inch) in the overlying skin and removes the node.

The most common types of biopsy methods used in cancer diagnosis are :

Needle biopsy (Fine and Core) Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy Excisional or incisional biopsy Endoscopic biopsy Skin biopsy Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Most tumor markers are made by both:

Normal cells and cancer cells, but they are made in larger amounts by cancer cells.

Examples of mechanical exfoliation include:

Pap smears, or bronchial washings or brushings, where a bronchoscope is inserted into the airway and is used to "wash" or "brush" cells from the surface of a suspicious lesion.

A variety of imaging tests may be used to help a doctor see whether a tumor is present. These tests may include:

Radiography (x-ray), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography, or a nuclear medicine scan, such as a PET (positron emission tomography) scan.

If cancer is found in a lymph node biopsy, the surgeon may:

Remove additional lymph nodes, either during the same biopsy procedure or during a follow-up surgical procedure.

Punch biopsies or excisional biopsies:

Remove deeper layers of the skin, and can find out how deeply a melanoma has gone into the skin - an important factor in choosing treatment for that type of cancer.

Shave biopsies:

Remove the outer layers of skin and work well for some basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers, but they are not recommended for suspected melanomas of the skin.

There are many ways to take a biopsy of the skin:

Shave biopsies Punch or excisional biopsies

The level of tumor marker __________ may be measured:

Substances.

Can help doctors make a diagnosis:

Tests of the blood, urine, or other fluids.

A sentinel lymph node is defined as:

The first lymph node to which cancer cells are most likely to spread from a primary tumor.

In a fine needle biopsy, if the tumor is deep inside the body:

The needle can be guided while being watched on an imaging test such as an ultrasound or CT scan.

During the second step of a sentinel lymph node biopsy:

The surgeon then uses a device that detects radioactivity to find the sentinel node or looks for lymph nodes that are stained with the blue dye.

Like FNA, a core biopsy may involve:

The use of an imaging test to help guide needle placement.

Needle biopsy:

There are two types of needle biopsies: fine needle biopsy and core needle biopsy.

Pap smears are an example of mechanical exfoliation, because:

This is done where cells are scraped from the cervix with a cervical spatula.

Bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy are:

Usually done at the same time.

An example of spontaneous exfoliation is:

When cells of the peritoneal cavity are shed into the peritoneal fluid.

A biopsy sample may be removed in a variety of different ways. How a sample is taken depends on:

Where the tumor is and what type of cancer is suspected.

In diagnosing a patient with cancer, a doctor will perform a thorough physical exam, take a detailed medical history, and:

order a variety of tests to diagnose a patient's cancer. Tests include laboratory tests, imaging tests, and biopsy.

Incisional biopsy:

removal of a small part of a large tumor

Excisional biopsy:

removal of the entire tumor