Ultrasound technicians and their role in helping to stage Lung Cancer
Treatments for lung cancers continue to be very dependent upon the effective and efficient staging of the disease itself. ” In the pre-operative setting, testing should be sequential, logical and help to identify patients suitable for treatment with curative intent”. Specific to primary tumors of the lung, use of the MRI and/or Computed Tomography to predict the need for resections is limited because of difficulties in accuracy. However, they continue to provide necessary information for those on the medical team looking for the best approaches to utilize for effective treatment.
The role of nuclear medicine physicians as well as technicians such as ultrasound technicians, remains an essential part of the diagnostic and treatment modalities. As new approaches are studied and implemented over time, various technicians will continue to be on the front lines of providing critical evaluation and care of identified patients.