What is the examination method for small cell lung cancer

What are the examination methods for small cell lung cancer? Small cell lung cancer is generally more common in smokers. More than 90% of patients with small cell lung cancer have a history of smoking. People with small cell lung cancer are anxious and don’t know what examinations to do. So what are the examination methods for small cell lung cancer?

Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, and SCLC is closely related to smoking. According to a summary analysis of smoking and lung cancer worldwide from 1970 to 1999, lung cancer is positively correlated with smoking intensity (amount of smoking) and duration, and the relationship with SCLC is most obvious.

(a) X-ray examination

It is still an important basic method for discovering and diagnosing lung cancer and providing treatment reference. Commonly used X-ray examination methods include chest X-ray fluoroscopy, chest anteroposterior and lateral films, and tomographic films.

(ii) MRI examination

The biggest feature of chest MRI examination is that it is easier to identify the relationship between solid masses and blood vessels than CT, and it can show the compression, displacement and obstruction of the trachea, bronchi and blood vessels.

3. CT examination

Chest CT examination has become a routine method for estimating the extent and range of lung cancer intrathoracic invasion, especially in the staging of lung cancer, and it has an irreplaceable role. CT examinations of other parts, including the brain, liver, and adrenal glands, are mainly aimed at excluding distant metastasis to lung cancer-related parts. Generally, the examination is performed only when metastasis is suspected clinically.

(IV) Histological or cytological examination of lung cancer

The diagnosis of lung cancer must be based on histology or cytology. Cytology is one of the important methods for diagnosing lung cancer and is also the simplest and most convenient diagnostic method. According to the source of the specimen, it can be divided into sputum cytology, pleural effusion cancer cell cytology, percutaneous fine needle lung puncture cytology, and puncture smear cytology of enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes or subcutaneous nodules.

5. PET-CT examination

This test is relatively expensive and is mainly used to exclude mediastinal lymph node and distant metastasis.

Clinicians can make choices based on the circumstances of different patients.