Lung cancer diagnosis can be done through a number of ways. A chest radiograph is done as a first step in patients who have manifested symptoms that may be suggestive of lung cancer. A chest radiograph may show mass or widening of the mediastinum which may suggest spread of the disease to the lymph nodes. If the radiograph does not provide any findings in a person with an increased risk for example a heavy smoker, a bronchoscopy may provide the necessary information.

A computed tomography or CT scan can also be used to provide relevant information on the disease. Bronchoscopy or CT guided biopsy is often used to identify the type of tumor. Sputum atypia is a condition associated with persons with an increased risk of lung cancer. In this scenario, sputum cytologic examination combined with other screening methods may help in lung cancer diagnosis.

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that leads to uncontrolled cell growth in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women after breast cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. The major cause of cancer of the lung is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke which eventually alters the DNA in the tissue lining the bronchi in the lungs.

Other causes are exposure to ionizing radiation and sometimes it could be as a result of a viral infection. In nonsmokers, the cause is a combination of genetic factors and air pollution. Lung cancer diagnosis can also be done after an incidental finding of the disease on a chest radiograph or a CT scan taken for an unrelated disease.


Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on cancer and its treatment Cancer