Stomach Cancer

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest, most comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment programs in the world, offering the latest in screening and diagnostic services. Mayo Clinic health care professionals understand the anxiety associated with cancer and work to give you the most prompt diagnosis possible. In tests that involve radiation, specialists carefully monitor doses to avoid the risk of radiation overexposure.

To diagnose gastric cancer, Mayo Clinic specialists may:

• Use a tiny camera to see inside your stomach (upper endoscopy) and take a tissue sample (biopsy) if needed
• Order a computerized tomography (CT) scan or abdominal ultrasound to get detailed images from inside your abdomen

To help determine whether cancer has spread, and what stage the cancer is, your team will conduct tests and procedures appropriate for your situation. Examples include:

• Endoscopic ultrasound
• CT scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Exploratory surgery, usually done with a laparoscope to see inside your stomach without making large incisions

Read more about endoscopy, biopsy, CT scan, MRI and PET scan.