Further tests for head and neck cancer

Your doctor will decide which particular tests are necessary in your case. These may include some of the following:

X-ray Back to top

The doctor may want to take x-rays of your face or neck to see whether any bones have been affected. An x-ray known as an orthopantomogram (OPG) may be taken to look at your jaw and teeth.

You may have a chest x-ray to check your general health and to see whether the cancer has spread to the lungs. It is very rare for head and neck cancers to spread beyond the head and neck area, but if they do it’s usually to the lungs.

CT (computerised tomography) scan Back to top

A CT scan is a series of x-rays, which builds up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes from 10–30 minutes. CT scans use a small amount of radiation, which will be very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with.

You will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.

You may be given a drink or injection of a dye which allows particular areas to be seen more clearly. For a few minutes, this may make you feel hot all over. If you are allergic to iodine or have asthma you could have a more serious reaction to the injection, so it’s important to let your doctor know beforehand.

You will probably be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan Back to top

This test is similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build up a detailed picture of areas of your body. Before the scan you may be asked to complete and sign a checklist. This is to make sure that it’s safe for you to have an MRI scan because the scanner is a powerful magnet. The checklist asks about any metal implants you may have, for example a pacemaker, surgical clips or bone pins.

You should also tell your doctor if you have ever worked with metal or in the metal industry, as very tiny fragments of metal can sometimes lodge in the body. If you do have any metal in your body it’s likely that you won’t be able to have an MRI scan. In this situation another type of scan can be used.

Before having the scan, you’ll be asked to remove any metal belongings including jewellery. Some people are given an injection of dye into a vein in the arm, which doesn’t usually cause discomfort. This is called a contrast medium and can help the images from the scan to show up more clearly.

During the test you’ll be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a long cylinder (tube) for about 30 minutes. It’s painless but can be slightly uncomfortable, and some people feel a bit claustrophobic during the scan. It’s also noisy, but you’ll be given earplugs or headphones. You will be able to hear, and speak to, the person operating the scanner.

PET scan Back to top

Positron Emission Tomography scans (PET scans) are a new type of scan and you may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one. They are not always necessary but you can discuss with your doctor whether one would be useful in your case. PET scans can be used to find whether a head and neck cancer has spread beyond the original site, or to examine any lumps that remain after treatment to see whether they are scar tissue or whether cancer cells are still present.

A PET scan uses low-dose radioactive glucose (a type of sugar) to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body. A very small amount of a mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. A scan is then taken a couple of hours later. Areas of cancer are usually more active than surrounding tissue and show up on the scan.

PET (positron emission tomography) scan Back to top

PET scans are a newer type of scan and you may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one. They are not always necessary but you can discuss with your doctor whether one would be useful in your case. PET scans can be used to find out whether a head and neck cancer has spread beyond the original site, or to examine any lumps that remain after treatment to see whether they are scar tissue or whether cancer cells are still present. 

A PET scan uses low-dose radioactive glucose (a type of sugar) to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body. A very small amount of a mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. A scan is then taken a couple of hours later. Areas of cancer are usually more active than surrounding tissue and show up on the scan.

PET/CT scan Back to top

The scan is a combination of a CT scan which takes a series of x-rays to build up a three-dimensional picture (see above) with a PET scan which uses low dose radiation to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body (see above). This gives more detailed information about the part of the body being scanned. PET/CT scans are a new type of scan and you may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one.

You will be asked not to eat for six hours before the scan, although you may be able to drink. You will be given an injection of a mildly radioactive substance into a vein, usually in your arm. You may be asked to avoid talking and moving your head and neck area after the injection. The radiation dose used is very small. The scan is then taken after at least an hour. It usually takes 30–90 minutes.

You should be able to go home after the scan is over.

Other tests Back to top

Occasionally it is necessary to do other tests to give further information about the extent of your cancer. These may include a barium swallow or ultrasound scanning. Your doctor or nurse will explain these tests to you.

Waiting for your test results Back to top

It will probably take 7-10 days for the results of your tests to be ready, and this waiting period can be an anxious time. It may be helpful to talk to a relative or close friend. You can also contact our cancer support specialists|.