Below are some of the cutting-edge diagnostic techniques we use for cancer patients at Cape Fear Valley Health System.

 PET/CT – combined PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computerized Tomography) to allow physicians to spot cancer in its earliest stages and know precisely where it is forming.

 Stereotactic Breast Biopsy – uses digital imaging and a computerized guidance system that provides pinpoint accuracy to within a few millimeters. The biopsy speciments are of excellent quality for analysis by the pathologist. Recover time is 10 to 15 minutes and generally requires no more than a Band-Aid and an ice pack.

 Magnetic Resonance Imaging – available at Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Our new short-bore, high-field strength magnet reduces claustrophobia while maintaining excellent image quality.

 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy – allows depiction of the biochemical nature of tissue so that assessment of tumor size and type will result in more accurate treatment planning.

 Magnetic Resonance Angiography – evaluates the blood vessels without iodinated contrast media for staging certain malignancies.

 Helical CT Scanning – allows for very detailed visualization of the lungs in addition to routine abdominal imaging.

 Vertebroplasty – injection of cement to support the spine in areas of compression fractures and tumor destruction.

 Chemoinfusion – a technique of injecting particals of chemotherapeutic drugs directly into the brain arteries for treatment of brain tumors.

 Fine Needle Aspiration – a technique whereby the pathologist uses a fine needle to biopsy certain cancers. This method offers prompt, effective and safe diagnosis and classification of cancer. It is also very cost-effective.

 Flow Cytometry – used in the management of patients with hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms (cancers of the blood and lymph system). This challenging diagnostic technique is used as the standard of care by major healthcare institutions and university centers to precisely subclassify leukemias and lymphomas so that proper and specific treatment can be implemented.

 Comprehensive Immunohistochemical Breast Tumor Profile – this series of diagnostic tests allow the pathologist to interpret the tumor’s estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, nuclear proliferation index and HER/2NEU (Cer-B2) over-expression. This data enables the physician to better diagnose and predict the future course and outcome of the patient’s disease.