Lymphoma

How is lymphoma diagnosed? 

A common symptom of lymphoma is painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm or groin. Benign conditions can also cause swelling, so tests and procedures are needed to diagnose lymphoma and develop an effective treatment plan.

These may include:

• Physical exam: Your doctor will check for swollen lymph nodes in your neck, underarm and groin as well as an enlarged spleen or liver.
• Blood tests: To test blood cell, kidney and liver performance. Blood tests can also detect lactase dehydrogenase (LDH), a chemical associated with the aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Bone marrow biopsy: Bone marrow samples are usually taken by inserting a needle into the hip bone to extract samples. These are then examined in the lab for the presence of cancer cells.
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests including CT scan, MRI scans and PET scans may be used to look for signs of lymphoma in the body.