How is EHE diagnosed?

How is EHE diagnosed?

Since EHE doesn’t often cause symptoms, most people learn they have one or more tumors during an imaging procedure unrelated to EHE. Your provider will note where the tumor is located, its size, and whether it’s spread to other parts of your body (metastasized).

The most common procedures used to diagnose EHE include:

• CT scan: Your provider may order a CT scan to identify EHE tumors in your chest, abdomen and pelvis. A CT scan uses X-rays to scan your body and project images onto a computer screen that your provider sees. A CT scan allows your provider to see structures inside your body, like bones, organs, muscles and blood vessels.
• MRI: Your provider may order an MRI to check for EHE tumors in your liver and bones. An MRI uses magnets and radio waves to scan your body and project images onto a computer screen. A whole-body MRI that scans your body from head to toe is particularly useful in detecting bone tumors that have spread throughout your body.
• Core-needle biopsy: Once a tumor is seen by CT or MRI then a biopsy can confirm whether a tumor is EHE. During a core-needle biopsy, your provider uses a large hollow needle to remove tissue from the tumor. A lab specialist, called a pathologist, examines the tissue with a microscope to check for signs of cancer. A biopsy also helps your provider rule out other conditions that may be mistaken for EHE, like breast cancer.

Your provider may order other tests, like an ultrasound or a PET scan, to identify tumors and see if they’ve spread.