An X-ray of the chest can help tell if the cancer has spread to the lungs or to lymph nodes in the middle of the chest.

A CT scan uses X-rays to take pictures of the inside of your body from many angles. A computer puts these images together to make a detailed image. CT scans can help your healthcare provider learn if your cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes in the back of your abdomen. They are also sometimes used to help guide a needle biopsy. This is called a CT-guided needle biopsy. Your healthcare provider may do this test if he or she thinks your cancer has spread ( metastasized). 

An MRI takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It uses radio waves and magnets instead of X-ray to take the images. An MRI can be more uncomfortable than a CT scan because you are in a relatively confined space and need to stay still. It may also take longer, but there should be no pain from an MRI. MRI is especially useful in looking at the spinal cord and brain.  

For this test, a healthcare provider injects a sugar solution that contains a very small amount of radioactive material into one of your veins. Cancer cells use sugar for energy. They take up the radioactive material faster than normal cells. A scanner with a special camera finds these radioactive hot spots. This test is most often used with certain types of testicular cancer to see how well the treatment has worked.