Before proceeding further, a generic concern might be addressed related to the symptoms of thymus cancer. Usually, thymus cancer is extremely rare. Moreover, most patients hardly find any significant symptoms when diagnosed initially.
1. Medical History and Physical Examinations
Doctors usually rely on medical history if they suspect thymus cancer. Therefore, you might get questions about any trace of this disease in your family in the past. They can also ask about your overall health conditions.
Moreover, physical examinations are also common in this regard. For example, patients having thymus cancer usually have fullness in the neck area, and a doctor can feel that with the help of a physical examination. Likewise, they suspect thymomas if they find that your symptoms are related to hypogammaglobulinemia, myasthenia gravis, or red cell aplasia.
2. Chest X-ray
It is an imaging test that doctors might ask you to do if they suspect thymus cancer in the middle of the chest. It is an energy beam sent through the body in a film generating pictures of specific body parts and organs. However, sometimes thymomas are small and might not be visible in an X-ray report. In such cases, doctors might require CT scans.
3. Computed Tomography Scan
CT scans use x-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body, which are more detailed than regular x-rays. Such scans create clear images of the soft tissues and organs in the body, making it easier to notice even the smallest thymomas. Doctors can also suggest CT-guided needle biopsy when they suspect tumours or metastasis.
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan
Doctors conduct MRI scans with a similar purpose as CT scans to create pictures of the soft tissues and organs. However, instead of using x-rays like CT scans, MRI scans use strong magnets and radio waves. Doctors suggest this type of scan for patients who cannot go through CT scans because of medical reasons, such as resistance to IV contrast. In addition, the images generated in MRI scans help doctors take a closer look into the chest and nodes.
5. Positron Emission Tomography Scan
Doctors usually inject a slightly radioactive form of sugar while conducting a PET scan. It collects in the cancer cells of the body. They then use a specific camera to take pictures of the radioactivity areas of the body. While such images might not be as detailed as CT or MRI scans, they can be helpful to look for possible areas of cancer cell spread. It can be useful if cancer is diagnosed, but its location is unclear.