Testicular Cancer Staging: An Introduction
If a
diagnosis of testicular cancer is made, the doctor will then need to determine the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage of the disease when planning treatment.
Testicular cancer staging is an attempt to find out the size of the tumor, whether the disease has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body. The doctor may determine the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, or the patient may need more tests.
Staging Tests for Testicular Cancer
The following tests and procedures may be used to determine the stage of testicular cancer:
- Chest x-ray
- Computed tomography scan
- Lymphangiography
- Abdominal lymph node dissection
- Radical inguinal orchiectomy and biopsy
- Blood tumor marker test.
Chest X-ray
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film. An x-ray makes a picture of areas inside the body.
Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)
A CT scan is a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. A computer linked to an x-ray machine makes the pictures, and a dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly on the pictures. This procedure is also called computerized tomography or computerized axial tomography (CAT).
