As part of the pathway for diagnosis and management of gynaecological cancer, patients may be referred for a number of investigations. These investigations allow doctors to make a diagnosis to see the extent of any disease.

Some investigations are used for all types of gynaecological cancer, while others are used only for specific types. Diagnostic investigations may include:

• Biopsy
• EUA (examination under anaesthetic)
• Laparoscopy
• CT scan
• MRI
• Ultrasound
• X-ray
• PET scan
• Colposcopy
• Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ)
• Cone biopsy (cervical)

Staging and grading

Your gynaecological 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 a 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 gynaecological cancer.