Many different scans are used to get images of what is happening inside the body, including x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine scans, and so on. The tests your health care team recommends may depend on a number of factors, such as:
- Where the tumor is and what type it is; some imaging studies work better for certain organs or tissues
- Whether or not a biopsy (tissue sample) is needed
- The balance between any risks or side effects and the expected benefits
- The costs
Table 2 lists the more common imaging tests that may be used for various types of cancers. Other types of tests, such as endoscopy (looking at body organs or cavities using a thin flexible tube that holds a camera), may be used along with or in place of those listed.
More information about the tests used for a certain cancer can be found in our document about that cancer. For example, our Bladder Cancer document talks about tests used to find and stage bladder cancer.
Tests are chosen based on the extent and type of cancer. If you have questions about a test that your health care team wants you to have, ask them to explain the purpose of the test.
Table 2: Common cancer-related uses of imaging tests
Body part |
Why test is used* |
Imaging test |
Bladder and ureters |
Detection |
Intravenous pyelogram, endoscopy (preferred) |
Staging |
MRI or CT of the pelvis, ultrasound | |
Breast |
Screening |
Mammogram (screening), MRI with mammogram in some women at high risk |
Detection |
Mammogram (diagnostic), ultrasound, MRI, | |
Image-guided biopsy |
Mammogram, CT-guided biopsy, MRI, ultrasound | |
Staging |
Chest x-ray, nuclear scan (bone scan), CT or MRI | |
Brain and spinal cord |
Detection |
MRI (usually preferred), CT |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT or MRI | |
Staging |
CT or MRI, chest x-ray | |
Colon and rectum |
Screening |
Lower GI series (barium enema with air contrast), CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) |
Detection |
Lower GI series (barium enema with air contrast), endoscopy (preferred) | |
Staging |
CT of abdomen (belly) and chest, ultrasound (with rectal probe to check depth of rectal cancer invasion), MRI | |
Endometrium (lining of the uterus) |
Staging |
MRI (gives information about spread to lymph nodes; usually surgery is done for primary staging), ultrasound with vaginal probe, CT |
Esophagus (swallowing tube) |
Detection |
Upper GI series (barium swallow), endoscopy (preferred) |
Staging |
Ultrasound (with probe in the esophagus to check for spread of cancer), CT of chest and abdomen (belly) | |
Head and neck |
Staging |
CT or MRI to look at tumor size and spread, chest x-ray |
Kidney |
Detection |
Ultrasound, intravenous pyelogram, CT, MRI |
Staging |
Chest x-ray, CT of abdomen (belly) and chest, MRI (to check for spread into nearby veins), bone scan | |
Liver |
Detection |
CT, MRI, ultrasound |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT, ultrasound | |
Staging |
CT, MRI, angiogram to see blood vessels around the tumors | |
Lung |
Detection |
Chest x-ray, CT |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT | |
Staging |
CT of chest, head, abdomen (belly), MRI, bone scan | |
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin disease |
Detection |
CT, MRI, ultrasound |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT | |
Staging |
CT, MRI, chest x-ray, bone scan, PET or PET/CT | |
Ovary |
Detection |
Ultrasound, MRI, CT |
Staging |
CT, MRI, or PET may be done before surgery, chest x-ray | |
Pancreas |
Detection/diagnosis |
CT, MRI, ultrasound (with probe inserted through the esophagus [swallowing tube] for better pictures) |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT, ultrasound | |
Staging |
CT, MRI | |
Prostate |
Detection |
Ultrasound with rectal probe |
Image-guided biopsy |
Ultrasound with rectal probe | |
Staging |
CT or MRI, monoclonal antibody nuclear scan (ProstaScint®), bone scan | |
Soft tissue (muscle, tendons, fat) |
Detection |
CT, MRI |
Image-guided biopsy |
CT | |
Staging |
CT (of chest, head, abdomen/belly, and sometimes pelvis), MRI | |
Stomach |
Detection/diagnosis |
Upper GI series (barium swallow with double contrast), endoscopy (preferred) |
Staging |
Ultrasound (with probe inserted through the esophagus [swallowing tube] for better images), CT, chest x-ray | |
Thyroid |
Detection/diagnosis |
Nuclear medicine scan, ultrasound (to see if lump is solid or a cyst filled with fluid) |
Image-guided biopsy |
Ultrasound | |
Staging |
Nuclear medicine, CT |
CT = Computed tomography
MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging
PET = Positron emission tomography
GI = Gastrointestinal
*Why tests is used
Screening refers to those tests used to find a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have symptoms of that disease.
Detection refers to tests used if your doctor has special reason to think that you may have a disease like cancer. These reasons could include symptoms, changes seen on your physical exam, or changes seen on screening tests. Imaging tests for detection can help find a mass or other abnormal tissue and can often predict whether it is likely to be cancer or some other type of disease. Still, in almost all cases, a tissue sample (biopsy) must be taken and looked at under the microscope to know if cancer is present.
Image-guided biopsy refers to the use of imaging tests to help guide a biopsy needle into the area of concern. An image-guided biopsy can often allow the doctor to get tissue for study that might otherwise require surgery to reach.
Staging is the process of finding out how far a cancer has grown and spread. Imaging tests are often used to estimate the size of a cancer; to find out how far it has spread in the organ in which it started; and to see if it has spread to nearby tissues and organs, nearby lymph nodes, or distant organs. Most of the tests used for staging are used to look for metastases (spread) to distant organs or tissues. For instance, men with prostate cancer often have bone scans to see if the cancer has spread to bones.
Selection of imaging tests for staging will depend on the doctor’s impression of how far the cancer is likely to have spread, based on symptoms and other factors. These tests may not be done in people who have small tumors that do not seem to have spread. People with larger cancers or cancers that have already spread to lymph nodes may need tests such as nuclear scans, CT scans, or MRI to look for distant spread. People with bone pain, nerve-related symptoms (such as numbness, paralysis, or problems with balance or coordination), or other symptoms suggesting distant spread will need more careful evaluation by imaging tests.
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