Diagnosis, investigations and tests

Physical examination – A skin specialist should be able to confirm the diagnosis by doing a physical examination. They will also ask you questions about how long you have had the affected area of skin and any changes you may have noticed.

 

Dermoscopy – Gives a deeper view of skin lesions and can help the team determine between a benign lesion and one that requires further investigation. It looks a bit like a magnifying glass with a light.

 

Biopsy  - A biopsy is  a minor surgical procedure where either part of, or all of the tumour is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. A biopsy is normally done in a dermatology outpatient clinic, with local anaesthetic given to numb the area.

A pathologist (a doctor who specialises in analysing cells) will then look at it under a microscope in a laboratory. This will allow the team to determine the type of cancer you have and if it is likely to spread.

 

Lymph node examination – If there are concerns that your cancer could have spread, you may have a physical examination of your lymph nodes. If the cancer has spread, it may cause these glands to swell.

 

CT – CT scans take pictures of your body to find out where the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Read more about CT scans.

 

MRI – MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create a cross sectional picture of the body. You will have an MRI scan to see if your cancer has spread. Find out more about MRI scans.

 

Ultrasound – Uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body. Find out more about ultrasound scans.

 

PET Scan – A Positron emission tomography (PET) scan produces a detailed three dimensional image inside of the body. Learn more about PET scans.