Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Diagnosis

When Mayo Clinic physicians suspect non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the first diagnostic step is an in-depth interview with the patient. During the interview, the physician records details about the patient's symptoms and when they appeared. Once the physician has the patient's medical history, the next step is a physical examination. Because swollen lymph nodes usually indicate that the body is fighting an infection, the physician will want to learn whether that is the case, and will probably order blood and urine tests. Although treatment for children differs from that for adults, diagnostic testing is very similar.

Choosing the most appropriate treatment for each patient depends upon the diagnosis. Determining which form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma a patient has requires knowing not only whether it is a B cell or T cell form, but also upon judgments about the cells' size and appearance under a microscope, whether the cells demonstrate genetic changes, and how fast the cancer is growing.

The physician may order imaging studies to locate any tumors. X-rays and computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and gallium scans are commonly used in diagnosing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Diagnostic tests may also include biopsies of the lymph nodes or the bone marrow. A lymph node biopsy can help the physician determine how rapidly the lymphoma is growing. A bone marrow biopsy can show whether and where the disease might have spread.

Treatment decisions also depend upon diagnosing the stage of the disease.