CT Scans: A Clearer Look for Cancer

More people die from lung cancer than from any other type of cancer. Detecting tumors at an early stage is vital, and today’s imaging technology can help. Doctors use computed tomography (CT) scans to gather precise information about tumors, such as size, location, and position.

The benefits of CT scanning include the following:

• A CT scan offers a more detailed view of the lungs than a traditional X-ray. Several studies have shown that CT scanning has detected lung cancers that X-rays did not. Many of those cancers were small and in stage 1, an early stage of growth. And the earlier a lung tumor is found and treated, the greater the chance for survival.
• Nearby lymph nodes, glands, and organs are included in CT scans, so doctors can check if the cancer has spread.
• CT scans are a noninvasive and painless way to detect lung cancer. The scanner simply rotates around your body and takes multiple pictures at once, creating a detailed, cross-sectional image of the area being studied.