If penile cancer is suspected, your doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:
- Physical Exam: The doctor checks general signs of health, including checking the penis for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
- Biopsy: Tissue or cells may be removed so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist who looks for signs of cancer.
Classifying your cancer
The following tests may be performed to evaluate whether the cancer has spread beyond the penis.
- Chest X-Ray: A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
- CT scan (CAT scan): An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the urinary tract and any tumors present. The patient may receive an injection of dye so the bladder and urethra show up clearly.
- MRI: MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging machine that uses a large magnet, a computer and radio waves to look inside and evaluate parts of the body.
- Ultrasound: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.