Radiology Testing for Liver Cancer
Radiology testing is very important to determine the exact extent (and stage) of the liver cancer prior to deciding the best treatment option. This includes the use of CT scan, MRI, ultrasound (U/S), and/or PET scan. It is very common for your doctors at the UPMC Liver Cancer Center to order a repeat CT scan, even though you may have had one done recently at your local hospital. The reason for this is that the CT scans at the UPMC Liver Cancer Center are often more comprehensive, utilizing thinner views as well as triphasic contrast to give the best possible imaging of the liver tumor(s). Sometimes an outside CT scan will show a single tumor in the liver, whereas the UPMC triphasic scan will show additional tumors that may change the treatment strategy or help guide the surgical team to avoid leaving any tumors behind during the liver resection.
A PET scan is a functional nuclear medicine test that is sometimes used to help confirm the presence of a tumor or identify additional tumors. It consists of radiolabeled glucose (FDG) that is injected in an arm vein with the concept that most cancer cells are rapidly dividing and will take up the glucose and show up as a “hot-spot.” The radiologist correlates a functional “hot-spot” on a PET scan with a tumor nodule on a CT scan.
The CT, MRI, and U/S scans are performed in the radiology department on the first floor of UPMC Presbyterian. The PET scans are performed at UPMC Presbyterian or at the Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside. The Hillman Cancer Center is the flagship facility of the UPMC Cancer Centers.