To diagnose gynecologic cancers, doctors review a patient's medical history, perform a physical exam, and perform one or more diagnostic tests.
- Medical history. The doctor will review the patient's medical history, ask about symptoms, and ask if the patient has any risk factors for gynecologic cancers.
- Physical exam. During the physical exam, the doctor will look for signs and symptoms of gynecologic cancers and determine the patient's general health. The exam may include a pelvic exam.
Various diagnostic tests are used to diagnose gynecologic cancers. These may include:
- Blood test. The blood test is used to measure the level of tumor markers and other blood components that may be indicative of cancer.
- PAP test. In this test, a doctor removes a sample of cells from the cervix for laboratory analysis. A pathologist examines the cells under a microscope to check for cancer. This test is used in the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
- Imaging tests. These tests produce images of the internal tissues of the pelvis and abdomen and allow doctors to visually detect tumors and other abnormalities. Imaging tests commonly used in the diagnosis of gynecologic cancers include ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans.
- If gynecologic cancer is diagnosed, other imaging tests, such as a CT scan, may be used.positron emission tomography (PET), to find out if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
- Biopsy. Biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of cancer. In a biopsy, a small piece of tissue is removed for laboratory analysis. For gynecologic cancers, biopsies can be done with an image-guided needle during a minimally invasive procedure, through open surgery, or with other specialized instruments. Once the tissue sample is collected, a pathologist examines it under a microscope to check for the presence of cancer cells.
El Dr. Alfonso Ángel Quesada, gynecologist and obstetrician at Ginefem, explains in this video how gynecological cancer is diagnosed.
