At UHB there are many different tests and procedures that we can carry out to diagnose cancer. A member of your clinical team will advise you on the tests that are most suitable for you. If you have any questions about these tests, please contact your clinical team.
These tests and procedures can be carried out as an outpatient, inpatient, or as a day patient (day case), which will depend on the test or procedure you require.
Before your test or procedure, a member from the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) will explain the reason for the test, what is involved, whether there is any special preparation required, how long it will take, and any potential risks or complications involved.
Your medical team will also let you know when you can expect to receive your test results. If you don’t receive them in the agreed timeframe, please contact the team directly using the contact details provided on your letter or specifically advised by the team.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure that removes a sample of abnormal tissue. A pathologist will look at the tissue under a microscope and run other tests on the cells in the sample. A pathologist will describe the findings in a report, which contains details about your diagnosis. The information on your pathology report can also help show what treatment options are best for you.
Bone scan
Bone scans are a type of nuclear scan that checks for abnormal areas or damage in the bones. They may be used to diagnose bone cancer or find out whether cancer has spread to the bones from elsewhere in the body.
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a technique used to look at your air passages with a small camera that is located at the end of a flexible tube. This connects to a video screen for a doctor or endoscopist to view and take photos of your airways. The tube also has a small channel to collect tissue samples (a biopsy) from your airways or lungs.
Computerised Tomography (CT) scan
A CT scan produces a detailed picture of the inside of the body.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound image of the heart. An echocardiogram can help doctors diagnose a range of heart problems, such as heart attacks, blood clots, heart valve disease and more. You may be required to have this in preparation for treatment.
Endoscopy
Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure that can be used to examine areas within your body. It uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera attached. More information on the endoscopy services provided at UHB can be found on the pages below.
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray procedure used to assess if there are any abnormalities in either breast.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan
MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to take pictures of your body in slices. These slices are combined to create detailed images of the inside of your body and show if there are any tumours present.
Nuclear medicine gamma camera imaging
Nuclear medicine imaging allows us to take pictures of an organ or disease using radiotracers. These tracers are selected based on their ability to localise specific organs.
Pathology
A pathology test will examine a sample of your body’s tissue and provide more information about your health. They can be used to help diagnose, detect and monitor cancer, including how well the cancer is responding to the medicines and treatments.
PET-CT scan
A PET scan is a type of nuclear scan that produces detailed 3D images of areas inside your body where glucose is taken up. Cancer cells often take up more glucose than healthy cells. These scans can be used to identify cancer or other abnormalities in the body by highlighting the increase in glucose uptake.
Teledermatology service
Teledermatology involves a qualified clinical photographer taking a series of high-quality digital photos of a patient’s skin lesion. The photos are securely sent to a dermatologist who remotely assesses them to determine whether the patient requires a hospital visit or further treatment.
Ultrasound scan
An ultrasound scan is used to see images of the inside of your body, such as muscles and organs. It's usually done in hospitals or clinics.
X-ray
An x-ray uses low doses of radiation to capture pictures inside your body. A member of staff will position you correctly and direct the x-ray beam to the correct part of your body.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2025