© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All
rights reserved worldwide. ON THIS PAGE: You will find a list of
the common tests, procedures, and scans that doctors can use to
find out what’s wrong and identify the cause of the problem. To
see other pages in this guide, use the colored boxes on the
right side of your screen, or click “Next” at the bottom.
Doctors use many tests to diagnose a tumor and find out if it
has metastasized (spread). Some tests may also determine which
treatments may be the most effective. For most types of tumors,
a biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis. If a
biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that
will help make a diagnosis. Imaging tests may be used to find
out whether the tumor has spread. This list describes options
for diagnosing astrocytoma, and not all tests listed will be
used for every person. Your child’s doctor may consider these
factors when choosing a diagnostic test: - Age and medical
condition - Type of tumor susp