Is Ii Possible That Cancer Can Be Considered Stage Four If It Has Not Been Biopsy End?

Posted on Mon, 22 Jul 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 Answered on

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Is is possible that cancer can be considered stage four if it has not been biopsy end

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (14 minutes later)

Hi

Thanks for your query. The stage of the cancer depends mostly upon radiological tests like CT/MRI, etc. However, the diagnosis (cancer or no cancer) is based upon biopsy. Sometimes the clinical and CT/MRI pictures are suggestive of a stage IV cancer but final opinion should be based upon biopsy.

In some circumstances radiological picture with blood tests may clinch the diagnosis but this is not universal. If you can specify the clinical scenario you are concerned with and share some of the reports then I may be able to guide you better.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (5 hours later)

I am not sure how far back you can see the information on this account but the subject has a new diagnosis showing that his lungs and liver are now involved by a later pet scan. He is hospitalized after he fell out with an acute case of pneumonia which was not detected by his pulmonary doctor. He was scheduled to have a liver biopsy which he never had. While in hospital room he suddenly stared breathing very hard and he had to have an emergency trach put in. They claim he has another tumor in his neck. the same place that was biopsies and given the all clear two and a half weeks before. Initially they had gotten some of the so called tumor out by deep suctioning and called it scar tissue and mucus.

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (4 hours later)

Thanks for follow up.

I think he needs a confirmatory biopsy before labelling it as cancer. It certainly appears so but this is not a scenario where we can call it cancer without biopsy.
Many infections may cause similar picture.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar