Children's cancer tests

• Bone scans 
  A test that can show if cancer is present in bones using a radioactive dye. 
• CT (CAT) scan 
  This special X-ray gives a detailed picture of the tissues inside your body. During the scan, your child will lie on a table which passes through a doughnut-shaped machine. 
• MIBG scan  
  Usually done in children who have a diagnosis of neuroblastoma. It involves a radioactive substance being injected into the bloodstream and the scan being taken the next day. This will show up any areas of tumour in the body.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
  This uses radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer to take detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures can show the difference between normal and diseased tissue. 
• PET scan 
  This scan is normally done in children who have Hodgkin lymphoma. A very small amount of a radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream, which can show up cancer cells on a scan.
• Ultrasound scans
  This scan uses sound waves to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body. It is like the scan used for pregnant women. A gel will be spread over the area to be examined. A small device like a microphone is moved back and forth over the area. The scanning device makes sound waves that are changed into a picture on a computer. This test is not painful but your child will need to lie still on a couch. Sometimes your child may need to fast for an ultrasound or to drink beforehand so that their bladder is full for the test.  
• X-rays
  X-rays allow your doctor to look inside the body and check for any abnormal changes. They can check your child’s health or help with the diagnosis. X‐rays of the affected area may also be taken at various stages throughout your child’s treatment. X‐rays are not painful but your child must keep very still. 

A biopsy is a small sample of cells removed from the body. The sample is examined under a microscope by a doctor called a pathologist to see if it contains cancer cells or to give your doctor information about the type of cancer and how it might grow (the cancer grade). Biopsies are usually done under anaesthetic. Read more about biopsies. 

This test can be done to diagnose, prevent or treat disease. The fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is called cerebrospinal fluid. During the test, some of this fluid is removed by putting a needle into the lower back. The fluid is then examined in a laboratory. It is done under general anaesthetic. Read more about lumbar punctures.

Blood tests can be used to check your child’s health, to diagnose blood cancers, and to check how well your child is responding to treatment. Read more about blood tests.

Blood samples can be used to examine the cancer cells and their genetic material in detail to give more information about the type of cancer, how it might behave and how it might respond to different treatments. For example, immunophenotyping, FISH analysis and other cytogenetic tests. Find out more about tests to examine cells and genes.

A sample of urine may be taken and checked to see how your child is responding to treatment, to look for infection or to see if there are any problems due to treatment. 

• GFR (glomerular filtration rate)
  This tests check your child’s kidney function. A small amount of radioisotope is injected into your child’s blood. Blood tests will be taken 2 hours after the first injection and then 2 hours later again. The kidneys are checked because it is known that some chemotherapy and certain antibiotics can damage them. If your child has a single lumen Hickman, he/she will need a small tube (cannula) put into their hand to give the dye.
• Urinalysis
  A test to check the number of white blood cells and red blood cells in the urine (pee). It also tests for protein, bacteria and sugar. Your child’s urine is collected in a sterile bag or container.
• Urine VMA (vanillylmandelic acid)
  A test referred to as either ‘urine VMA’ or ‘urine catecholamine’. VMA is a chemical found in the urine in raised amounts when a child has neuroblastoma.