Lung cancer can be difficult to diagnose, and often numerous tests, including imaging studies and biopsies, are needed to determine an accurate diagnosis.  Common tests include:

Imaging – Imaging provides pictures of tumors and disease activity and is non-invasive or involves only an injection.

• Chest X-Ray – Images the blood vessels and organs of the chest. It is used to diagnose a number of conditions, including lung cancer;


• CT scan: A chest CT scan is like multiple chest x-rays added together to provide more information, such as the size and location of any tumors. CT scans also indicate how to best treat the cancer;


• PET (positron emission tomography)/CT scan: A PET scan shows evidence of disease activity. It also shows whether cancer has spread from one site to another;


• Bone Scan: A whole body scan, similar to a PET scan, a bone scan uses a radioactive tracer to specifically identify possible sites of tumor spread to bones.

Surgical biopsy – A surgical biopsy is used for conclusive diagnosis. Biopsies can be performed a number of ways:

• Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA): A minor procedure that uses image guidance to obtain a tissue sample. While one of the least invasive biopsy methods, the diagnosis with FNA may be missed, and a more invasive procedure may be needed to be used to obtain a conclusive diagnosis;


• Endobronchial ultrasound: This procedure uses a bronchoscope equipped with ultrasound to enable doctors to biopsy lymph nodes that are positioned beside the airway. This procedure is performed to determine if cancer has spread to these nearby lymph nodes;


• Mediastinoscopy: This day surgery allows larger biopsies of the nearby lymph nodes to be obtained through a small, one-inch incision. General anesthesia is required, and patients return home an hour or two after the procedure;


• Thoracoscopy: This surgical procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and involves a special breathing tube which allows the lung to deflate for examination. The surgeon inserts a small camera and several small instruments between the ribs, so that the lung and lining can be examined and biopsies taken of suspect areas. Hospital stay can vary between one and several days;


• Thoracotomy: A surgical procedure used when other methods fail or are not applicable, a thoracotomy involves a larger incision on the side of a chest, through which the tumor can be identified and biopsied. Average hospital stay for a thoracotomy is approximately five days. i found one radon detector to detect the radon effects which caouses cancer,