The Diagnosis of Cancer

Cancer is diagnosed if a histological examination positively detects tumour material. This is achieved by e.g. an operation (tumour or lymph node removal), fine-needle or punch biopsy or via a bone marrow examination. For these purposes, the expertise of a pathologist is indispensable. The degree to which the disease spreads can then be determined by imaging methods and nuclear medicine procedures (including: computer tomography, nuclear magnetic tomography, PET and/or PET-CT and bone scans).