Your doctor may use a scan or test to better understand or diagnose sarcoma.
There are different kinds of scans and tests depending on where the sarcoma is in your body.
X-ray
An X-ray uses radiation to take images of tissues inside the body such as bones or tumours.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound scan is used to see images inside your body. For example, you can use ultrasound to see muscles or organs.2
CT
A computerised tomography (CT) scan takes a number of X-ray images to build a detailed 3D image of the inside of your body.
EUS
An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) used a thin tube-like instrument called an endoscope with a camera attached to the end. This tube is put inside your body and can be used to look at the gut for GIST tumours.
PET
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan uses a small amount of radiation to scan the inside of your body. It can sometimes be used alongside a CT scan or an MRI scan.
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses strong magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of your body.
Bone scan
A bone scan involves injecting a small amount of radioactive fluid into a vein in your arm. The fluid shows up in your bones on the bone scan. Any areas where the fluid has collected are known as ‘hot spots’. These hot spots are where the sarcoma is.
Biopsy
A biopsy involves taking a small sample of tissue from your tumour. It is then looked at under a microscope. The results can help your doctors understand what type of sarcoma you have, and how fast it’s growing.
Last reviewed May 2025
Next review due May 2028
