Cancer Care Diagnostics

You can’t treat what you don’t see. With that in mind, Saddleback Medical Center has invested in the very best diagnostic technology available to provide critical diagnostic insight.

A comprehensive cancer program requires a full complement of imaging and laboratory services to locate benign or malignant tumors, to biopsy them and then report results quickly to physicians and patients.

Computerized Tomography (CT)

• A computed tomography (CT) scan, also called a CAT scan, is a diagnostic tool used to detect cancer. A CT scan creates a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body with an x-ray machine. A computer then combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities or tumors. Saddleback Medical Center’s low-dose CT scanners expose patients to much less radiation than standard CT equipment.

Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT)

• The combination of a PET scan with a CT scan has revolutionized medical diagnosis, especially in cancer. The combination allows clinicians to better evaluate the location and extent of the cancer, as well as monitor response to therapy. In conjunction with highly sophisticated systems, PET/CT images can be “fused” with radiation therapy systems to more accurately prepare treatment plans.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• MRI is the investigation of choice in the preoperative staging of rectal and prostate cancer. It is also used in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of other cancers. We use the latest MRI technology to ensure the best possible imaging results.

Nuclear Medicine

• Nuclear medicine scans are unique because the exam evaluate metabolic activity at the cellular level. A nuclear medicine scan is a procedure that uses low-grade radiation tracers 9radionuclides) to take pictures of active cells and organs. The exam allows specially-trained radiologists to check for changes in the cells and organs for the body.

Endobronchial Ultrasound

• Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) is a technique that uses ultrasound, along with a bronchoscope, to visualize air passages in the lung. EBUS has become the gold standard for diagnosing cancers identified with CT, and may eliminate the need for open biopsy procedures.

Pathology Services

• Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that deals with the analysis of tissue obtained from biopsies or surgical specimens. This analysis assists in the diagnosis and staging of cancers as well as likely response to various treatment options

The best equipment, coupled with the expertise of our specialty physicians, ensures accurate and timely reporting to our physicians and in turn better outcomes for our patients.