Diagnostic Oncology

3Services & procedures

3 services

What makes us different

Department of Lab Sciences

Our Laboratory Sciences Department provides high-accuracy investigations essential for cancer screening, diagnosis, staging, monitoring and treatment planning. It is divided into specialised sub-departments:

Radiology & Imaging

Our Radiology & Imaging Department is equipped with advanced, high-resolution technologies that play a critical role in early detection, tumour characterisation, staging, radiation planning and treatment monitoring. Each modality contributes unique clinical insights, ensuring accuracy and confidence at every step of the cancer care pathway.

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine is a specialised branch of medicine that uses radioactive medicines, known as radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose and treat disease. These substances are selected for their ability to accumulate in particular organs, tissues or cells.

In diagnosis, they help doctors assess organ function, identify abnormal cellular activity and determine the extent of disease. In treatment, selected radiopharmaceuticals deliver radiation to diseased tissues to manage specific cancers and certain non-cancerous conditions.
Nuclear Medicine has two main applications- Diagnostic and Therapeutic.

Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine

Diagnostic nuclear medicine uses radiotracers to investigate how tissues and organs function. PET-CT imaging plays an important role in evaluating many cancers, determining their stage, assessing treatment response and investigating suspected recurrence. The radiotracer is selected according to the condition being evaluated.

FDG-PET-CT/ Whole Body Metabolic Imaging – Uses a glucose-based radiotracer to highlight areas of altered metabolic activity. It is widely used for cancer detection, staging and treatment assessment, and can also evaluate brain metabolism in selected neurological conditions, including dementia and epilepsy.
Ga-68 PSMA-PET-CT for Prostate Cancer Evaluation – Targets prostate-specific membrane antigen, a protein commonly expressed by prostate cancer cells. It helps identify disease spread, detect recurrence and assess suitability for PSMA-targeted radionuclide therapy.
18F- NaF Bone PET CT for Bone Metastasis– It is a highly sensitive nuclear medicine scan that uses radioactive sodium fluoride to assess bone activity. It combines functional PET imaging with anatomical CT images to help detect bone metastases and determine their location and extent. The scan can also evaluate selected non-cancerous bone conditions, with findings interpreted alongside CT appearances and clinical history.
FES-PET-CT – Evaluates oestrogen receptor expression in recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Used alongside biopsy and other investigations, it provides information about receptor-positive disease across different tumour sites to support clinical decision-making.
Ga-68 DOTATATE PET-CT for Neuroendocrine Tumor Imaging– Helps locate neuroendocrine tumours and assess their spread. It also supports the selection of suitable patients for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, commonly known as PRRT.

Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine

Therapeutic nuclear medicine uses radiopharmaceuticals to deliver targeted radiation to diseased tissues. Treatment selection depends on the diagnosis, imaging findings, organ function and previous treatment history. In certain cancers, targeted imaging can help determine whether a tumour is suitable for a corresponding radionuclide treatment. This approach, which combines targeted diagnosis with targeted treatment, is known as theranostics.

Radioiodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism – Uses iodine-131 to treat an overactive thyroid, including Graves’ disease and toxic thyroid nodules. It reduces the activity of thyroid tissue and helps control excessive thyroid hormone production.
Radioiodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer – Used in selected patients with differentiated thyroid cancers that absorb iodine. It can treat remaining thyroid tissue after surgery as well as iodine-avid residual or metastatic disease.
Lutetium-177 PSMA Therapy – A targeted radionuclide treatment for selected patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. It delivers radiation to tumour cells expressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), with treatment suitability determined through imaging and clinical assessment.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) – Commonly uses lutetium-177 DOTATATE to treat selected somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumours, particularly those originating in the gastrointestinal tract or pancreas.
Iodine-131 MIBG Therapy – Used for selected tumours that take up MIBG, including certain neuroblastomas, phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Biochemistry

Biochemistry plays a key role in understanding tumour behaviour and patient fitness for treatment.

Tumour Markers (AFP, CA-125, CA-19.9, CEA, PSA):
Help in early detection, assessing tumour burden, monitoring treatment response and detecting recurrence.
Liver & Kidney Function Tests:
Essential for chemotherapy planning and evaluating tolerance for combined chemoradiation.
Electrolytes:
Monitor metabolic balance, especially during intensive therapy.
Lipid & Glucose Profile:
Important for metabolic assessment prior to systemic treatments and steroid-based therapy used with radiotherapy.

Haematology

CBC & ESR:
Detect anaemia, infections or systemic inflammation, crucial before starting radiation.
Peripheral Smear:
Helps evaluate blood cell morphology for cancer-related abnormalities.
Coagulation Profile:
Ensures safe biopsy procedures, surgical interventions and catheter insertions.
Bone Marrow Study:
Helps diagnose haematological cancers and assess marrow reserve before therapy.

Immunology

Autoimmune Profiles & Immunoglobulin Levels:
Important when planning immunotherapy or radiation in patients with immune-related disorders.
Allergy Profiles:
Useful before administering contrast agents or specific chemotherapy drugs.

Microbiology

Culture & Sensitivity Tests:
Identify and treat infections quickly, keeping radiation and chemotherapy schedules uninterrupted.
Blood/Urine/Stool Cultures & Serology:
Help detect systemic infections early in immunocompromised patients.
Fungal Studies:
Critical for at-risk patients undergoing prolonged therapy.

Molecular Diagnostics

PCR-based Mutation Analysis:
Detects actionable mutations influencing treatment strategy.
Oncogene Testing & Genetic Profiling:
Supports targeted therapies and helps determine radiation sensitivity.
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Monitoring:
Tracks therapy effectiveness, especially in haematological cancers.

Histopathology & Cytology

FNAC, Core Needle & Tru-Cut Biopsies:
Accurately determine tumour type and grade.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC):
Provides receptor status and molecular markers that directly influence therapy plans
Frozen Section Analysis:
Supports intra-operative decision-making during cancer surgery.

Digital X-Ray

Provides quick, high-clarity imaging for evaluating chest, bone and skeletal involvement. It helps detect lung lesions, bone metastases, and structural abnormalities with minimal radiation exposure.

3D Mammography (Digital Breast Tomosynthesis)

A highly sensitive breast imaging tool that creates layer-by-layer breast images, improving detection of small, early-stage cancers that may be hidden in dense breast tissue. Essential for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and pre-surgical planning.

2D/3D/4D Ultrasonography

Offers real-time imaging for evaluating soft tissues, abdominal organs, breast lesions, pelvis, thyroid and vascular structures.
3D/4D imaging provides volumetric views that enhance tumour localisation and biopsy accuracy.
Frequently used for guided biopsies, treatment response monitoring and staging.

CT Scan

A cornerstone in oncology imaging that produces detailed cross-sectional images for tumour sizing, staging, and identifying lymph node or organ spread.
Critical for:

Radiation therapy planning
Biopsy guidance
Surgical decision-making
Monitoring progression or response to therapy

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Offers superior soft tissue contrast without radiation exposure. MRI is invaluable for brain, spine, breast, pelvic, liver and musculoskeletal cancers.
Helps in:

Tumour characterisation
Assessing local spread
Pre-operative planning
High-precision radiotherapy contouring

DEXA Scan (Bone Mineral Density)

Measures bone strength and mineral density. Important for cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy, steroid-based treatments or long-term chemotherapy, where bone health monitoring becomes essential. Also aids in identifying early osteopenia or osteoporosis.

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