Chest X-ray
A chest x-ray is a simple picture taken of the lungs. Beams of radiation travel through your body to a film plate behind your back. Collapsed lungs, fluid in or near the lungs and large tumors are amongst the things that can be seen on a chest x-ray. If something is too small or hidden behind bone or the heart, it may not be seen. No special preparation is needed.

CT Scan
A CT or CAT (computer-assisted tomography) scan provides a 3-D computerized detailed picture of the lungs, the airways and the lymph nodes in the chest. It may be done with or without IV contrast dye (dye is given to light up certain areas within the body). Today, we use a helical or “spiral” CT scan, which allows the test to be done fairly quickly; this reduces the amount of radiation to which you are exposed. Please notify your doctor if you are allergic to IV contrast dye or shellfish. You may need to have medications before receiving the dye.

MRI
An MRI is a special test that uses a magnet and computer to obtain a detailed picture of a portion of the body. In lung cancer, MRI’s are used most to look at the brain and spine. If you have concerns about being confined in this machine (e.g., claustrophobia) please notify your doctor so that special medication can be given to you to help you relax during the test.

Bone Scan
A bone scan is a special nuclear medicine test whereby low-dose radioactive dye is injected through a vein. Two to three hours later the body is “scanned.” This radioactive dye is absorbed into areas of the bone with high activity, such as from arthritis, infection or cancer. In lung cancer, tumor cells can metastasize to the bone. If you develop severe bone pain you may undergo this test to determine if this has happened.

PET Scan
A PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan is a test used to find areas where cells are rapidly dividing, such as tumor cells. Your doctor may order this test to determine if an abnormality on a CT scan is likely to be from cancer. It is also used to help determine the stage of cancer. A radioactive sugar substance is injected into a vein followed by the scan. Tumor cells will take up this sugar substance. Other reasons an area may light up are due to infection and/or inflammation.

PFT’s
A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT’s) is a test where a respiratory therapist has you perform different types of breathing tests. It takes about 1 hour. It gives your doctors information regarding your current lung function. This helps us to know whether you could tolerate surgery or other treatments such as radiation therapy.

Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart to determine how well your heart is pumping blood. A wand with jelly on the end is rubbed over your chest.  A picture appears on a screen and is recorded. A technician does this test, but a cardiologist determines the results. No special preparation is needed.

EKG
An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is an electrical picture of your heart. “Leads” or wires are attached to your chest wall, both wrists and both legs. You will be asked to lie very still while the machine “reads” and evaluates the electrical rhythm of your heart. This test is often obtained if you are having chest pain, as this may indicate that you are having a heart attack. It is also obtained prior to surgery to evaluate your heart. If it is abnormal you may require a special evaluation by a cardiologist (heart doctor) or further testing such as an echocardiogram.

LIFE Bronchoscopy
A new technique called the LIFE (Laser Induced Fluorescence Endoscopy) imaging system is approved by the FDA for use in the United States. LIFE bronchoscopy holds promise for the early detection of lung cancer located within the airways. Studies have shown that this new device actually doubles the doctor’s ability to see a tiny surface cancer in the airway. The LIFE system is available at Roswell and is currently used when doctors look into the lung with a light (bronchoscopy) in patients with suspected lung cancer.
          LIFE Bronchoscopy is generally a safe and painless procedure, performed with the patient in a light sleep (sedation) and with local anesthetic. It is done in the operating room. The doctor guides the LIFE bronchoscope through the nose into the windpipe and bronchial tubes, and the airways (bronchial tubes) are visualized. Biopsies are then taken from areas that appear abnormal. This type of bronchoscopy utilizes a fluorescent blue light which helps to visualize flat early cancers and precancerous spots in the airway.  The risks associated with bronchoscopy include the following: bleeding (usually mild and self-limiting), drug reaction from sedation, infection – pneumonia or bronchitis (rare), collapse of the lung (pneumothorax) (rare), and wheezing, breathing trouble or a low oxygen level.  These problems are uncommon and are entirely treatable.  It is an outpatient procedure and you will go home the same day. It takes approximately one week to obtain the biopsy results.

Low Dose Spiral CT Scan
Early lung cancer which occurs at the edge of the lung are so small that they may not even appear on a regular chest x-ray, and they are usually beyond the range of LIFE bronchoscopy. The Japanese have approached the problem by using a special kind of CT scan of the chest: the  “spiral CT”. The purpose of this scan is to detect tumors within the lung. The spiral CT is quick; it takes about 10 seconds to obtain a detailed picture of the lungs, and the radiation dose is similar to a single chest x-ray.  The spiral CT can detect small early cancers near the edge of the lung that are invisible on a regular chest x-ray.