There is a number of investigations and scans patients may have in order to find out whether they have a head and neck cancer.
Diagnostic investigations may include:
These investigations allow doctors to make a diagnosis and see the extent of any disease. Most, if not all of these investigations will be undertaken at a Trust clinic. If a head and neck cancer is confirmed, patients will be referred to Belfast City Hospital for treatment.
Staging and grading
Your cancer specialist needs certain information about the cancer to decide on the most appropriate treatment for you. This includes the stage and grade of the cancer. The stage of the cancer describes its size, position and whether it has spread to beyond the area of the body where it started.
Read more about staging and grading of head and neck cancers.