Further tests for soft tissue sarcomas

Chest x-ray Back to top

This will be done to check your general health and to look for any sign that the cancer has spread to your lungs, as this is one of the commonest places for soft tissue sarcomas to spread to.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan Back to top

This test uses magnetism 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, bone pins etc. 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 is 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.

CT (computerised tomography) scan Back to top

A CT is similar to an MRI scan but takes a series of x-rays instead of using magnetism to build 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’ll 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.

Ultrasound scan of the abdomen Back to top

This may be used if you have an abdominal lump. An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to look at internal organs such as the liver and the inside of the abdomen. You will usually be asked not to eat or to drink for a few hours before the test.

Once you are lying comfortably on your back, a gel is spread onto your abdomen. A small device like a microphone, which produces sound waves, is passed over the area. The sound waves are then converted into a picture by a computer. The test only takes a few minutes.

If the lump is in your womb, the ultrasound scan may be done by inserting an ultrasound device into your vagina. This is known as a transvaginal ultrasound scan and gives a very clear picture of the womb.

PET scan Back to top

PET (positron emission tomography) 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 if a sarcoma has spread to other parts of the body, or to examine any lumps that remain after treatment, to see if these are scar tissue or if 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.

Waiting for your test results Back to top

It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready and this waiting period will obviously be an anxious time for you. It may help if you can talk things over with a relative or close friend. You may find it helpful to talk to our cancer support specialists.