can a doctor tell if u have cancer buy doing a cat scan????

Question

my mother in law found out she had a mass on her liver..they did a catscan and told her it was not cancer no need for surgury..how can thet tell that buy a catscan?? thought they had to do a biopsie !!! can anyone help??? thanks

Answer 1

Maybe. A CT isn't always accurate, especially in locating how many tumors might be present. However, the doctor probably used the CT as a diagnostic tool to confirm what he suspected. So, it is not the CT but all the other facts put together that has made him come to this conclusion.

There are several types of benign liver tumors and perhaps your mother in law has all the symptoms that point towards one of them. You can read more about liver, tumors, and cancer on the American Cancer Society site:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_2_1x_what_is_liver_cancer_25.asp

Your other option, if you do not trust the diagnosis of this doctor, you can ask for a second or third opinion. Another doctor may have an entirely different outlook, so second opinions are a valid approach.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I'm not 100% sure how a ct scan works, but i know with a PET scan, cancerous growths will usually 'glow' or appear as a bright spot. It is quite possible the CT scan is similar and the mass on her liver did not glow and was considered to be a calcium deposit, fat deposit, scar tissue or many other things. As with everything though, get a second opinion to put your mind at ease.

Answer 3

well i would suggest you get a second opinion...just to be safe..the doctor is guessing from all symptoms,blood work and the image of tumors...most tumors have a Jagged edge, most cysts have smooth edges...what my moms oncologist said...But my mom hurt for 6mths with a Pulled muscle and come to find out she had a Malignant tumor in her lung cavity the size of a grape fruit.. they are not the all knowing OZ ....though some think they are.. But if for no other reason than piece of mind..get a second opinion...Liver Biopsies are very painful though...that's probably why doc is going with this first...Take copies of all blood work, CT scans, and the like with you to save from having to do it all over again.....Also there is a new test called PET scan...they put this sugar solution in IV and any cancer in your body...besides arms and legs will light up..VERY GOOD TEST, I believe everyone who is at risk for cancer should have one often..hope this helped...

Answer 4

A cat scan is just one test that can be used, she should get another opinion. Also ckeck sights like WebMD, or the American Cancer Society to get different ideas about what test are used to detect liver cancer.

Answer 5

yes, btw if ur mother in law had a lump, thats tumour and she better go to a real doctor or re-do the test in another hospital


I'm 13 so...but all i do is read on medicine cuz i want to become a doctor :D

Answer 6

yes, its about 93% accurate so it could be cancer, thats what happened to my aunt several years ago. Also, small cancer growths are less likely to be found as you can guess.