Leukemia Imaging Tests
Your doctor may order imaging tests if your doctor suspects cancer has spread outside of your blood system. Many patients may not need imaging tests at all.
Your doctor may also use imaging tests to look for infections or bleeding throughout your body. The results can help your doctor plan your treatment.
Chest X-ray
An X-ray uses small doses of radiation to get a picture of the inside of your body. A chest X-ray specifically looks at the organs and structures inside your chest, including your heart and lungs. You may get a chest X-ray to look for:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Infection
- Tumors
During the test, you stand in front of the X-ray machine. A technician instructs you to hold your breath for a few seconds while they take the image. You usually get an image of the side and front of your chest.
CT scan
A CT scan uses a series of X-rays and special computers to get a clear image of the inside of your body. They allow doctors to take pictures from multiple angles.
You often get a CT scan with contrast dye. A technician injects the dye into your arm before the test. The dye shows certain tissues more clearly on the image.
You lie flat on your back on an exam table. The table moves into the CT scanner, which looks like a large donut. The scanner rotates around you and takes pictures while you lie still.
MRI
An MRI uses radio waves and magnets to take a picture of the inside of your body. Sometimes, MRIs show bone changes that point to cancer sooner than an X-ray can. You may get an MRI to look for these bone changes or to evaluate possible tumors.
Doctors often use contrast dye with MRIs. The dye highlights your body tissues so they show up clearly on the image.
During the test, you lie flat on your back on an exam table. The table slides into the MRI machine, which looks like a long tunnel. The machine takes several images while you lie still.
Positron emission tomography scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan uses an injection of a substance called a radiotracer. If you have cancer cells, the radiotracer collects in the area of the cancer and shows up as a bright spot on the imaging scan.
Doctors commonly use a radiotracer called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). An FDG-PET scan can be effective in diagnosing cancers such as lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
On the day of your PET scan, a technician injects the radiotracer through one of your veins. You wait for about 30 to 60 minutes for the radiotracer to circulate through your body. Then you lie flat on your back on an exam table. The table slides into a CT or MRI scanner. The scanner takes pictures while you lie still.
Ultrasound
Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to obtain an image of the inside of your body. They don’t use any radiation. You may get an ultrasound to:
- Assess symptoms such as swelling or pain
- Evaluate your heart function, known as an echocardiogram
- Look for organ damage, enlargement, or tumors
During an ultrasound, a technician applies a special gel to the part of your body they’re examining. They move an ultrasound wand over your skin to take pictures.
Helpful resources
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