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Question

How many of the following statements are correct regarding the cancer detection methods?

I. Cancer detection is mainly based on biopsy and histopathological tests.
II. Blood and bone marrow tests are done for detecting all cancers.
III. CT scan and MRI are useful to detect skin cancer.
IV. Antibodies against cancer specific antigens are also used to detect cancer.

A
Only 1 is correct
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B
2 statements are correct
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C
3 statements are correct
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D
All 4 statements are correct
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Solution

The correct option is A Only 1 is correct

Cancer is a disease in which the affected body cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts in the body.

Cells continuously divide or proliferate without performing any specialized functions are called undifferentiated cells. In order to start performing specilalized functions, cells need to differentiate. These processes of cell division and differentiation are highly regulated in the body.

In healthy organisms, cell growth gets arrested naturally, when two or more cells come in contact with each other. This is a property of normal cells called contact inhibition. But this property is lost in cancer cells and the cells start to divide uncontrollably. This results in tumors.

The detection and diagnosis of cancer need to be done, before it spreads to other parts of the body. The following methods are used to detect cancer :

1. Biopsy : It is the main tool to diagnose most types of cancers. During biopsy, a small amount of tissue is removed from the patient’s body to examine under a microscope. This is done to identify the changes in cell morphology.

Figure : Biopsy

2. Histopathological studies of tissues : Histopathology involves examining tissues and cells under a microscope to detect the changes in morphology, cell counts etc.

Figure: Histopathological studies of tissues

3.Radiography technique : This technique uses radiations to provide images of the tissues, organs, and bones of the body. Radiologists and physicians are trained for interpreting these types of images.

Figure : Radiography

4. Computed tomography : CT scan or CAT scan, is used to find the cancer by taking pictures of the organs using X-rays taken from different angles. A computer later combines these pictures (3-dimensional images) showing abnormal areas or any tumors.
This technique helps to understand the different stages of cancer, location of tumor for biopsy and for planning radiation therapy.

Figure : CT scan of brain

5. Magnetic resonance imaging : MRI is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets for generating strong magnetic fields and non-ionising radiations like radio waves to accurately detect pathological and physiological changes in the living tissues. It help to make detailed and computer-generated pictures of the body.

This test is used to find a tumor, to identify whether the tumor is cancerous and to understand the size and location of the tumor. It also help to plan cancer treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy.

Figure : MRI scan

6. Molecular biology techniques : Antigen specific antibodies are used for the treatment and detection of cancers. Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins from a single B cell that act like human antibodies in the immune system. Monoclonal antibodies attach themselves to the specific molecule (antigen) on the surface of a cancer cell. When an antibody binds to the antigen, it serves as an identification mark for detecting cancer. So statement IV is correct.


Techniques like biopsy, histopathological studies of the tissues, blood tests and bone marrow tests are used mainly for checking increased cell counts in the case of blood and bone marrow cancers. These techniques are not used for detecting all cancers. Hence statement I and II are incorrect.

Techniques like radiography, CT scan and MRI are useful to detect cancers of the internal organs. It is not used to detect skin cancer. Hence statement III is incorrect.

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