CT scans use X-ray equipment and computer processing to produce 2-dimensional images of the body. The patient lies on a table and passes through a machine that looks like a large, squared-off donut.
This test uses a magnetic field, radiofrequency pulses, and a computer to produce detailed images of body structures in multiple planes. Some people may need an IV put in place so caregivers can inject a contrast solution into their veins. This depends on the exam the doctor has ordered. MRI is a more detailed tool than x-ray and ultrasound and for certain organs or areas of the body, it provides better images than CT.
A PET scan is used to detect cellular reactions to sugar. Abnormal cells tend to react and "light up" on the scan, thus helping physicians diagnose a variety of conditions. For the PET scan, a harmless chemical, called a radiotracer, is injected into your blood stream.
To understand how well your lungs are working, your physician may order a series of pulmonary function tests. With each breath you take in and breathe out, information is recorded about how much air your lungs take in, how the air moves through your lungs and how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your bloodstream.
For a skin biopsy, the physician may remove part or all of the skin in the area of concern, so it can be thoroughly examined under a microscope by a physician called a pathologist. The skin around the area being biopsied will be numbed using a local anesthetic before the biopsy. The anesthetic may sting slightly as it enters the body, but you should feel no pain during the biopsy itself.
A form of electromagnetic radiation with very high frequency and energy. X-rays are used to examine and make images of things such as the bones and organs inside the body.
If the physician performs a sentinel lymph node biopsy, and cancer is found in the sentinel nodes, it is likely a lymph node dissection will be advised to remove the other lymph nodes in the area.
There is no cure for sarcoidosis, but there are many different treatment options for patients. The focus of treatment is to improve symptoms and improve quality of life. While some achieve remission, the majority of patients learn management methods for what is a chronic condition.
