Diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
by
Debra Wood, RN Diagnosis often starts when someone sees their doctor for certain symptoms like painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, collarbone, armpit, or groin. For some, swollen lymph nodes are found incidentally during a physical exam or chest x-ray. There are several noncancerous reasons why lymph nodes maybe swollen. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, and family and medical history. Lymph nodes throughout the body will be carefully examined. The doctor will check other areas of the body, such as the spleen and liver, for swelling. If there are no obvious reasons for these symptoms, a blood disorder may be suspected Diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin LymphomaA lymph node biopsy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis. During the biopsy, all or part of a lymph node is removed. The tissue is examined under a microscope to look for specific types of cancer cells. The presence of these cells help determine the type of lymphoma present. Types of biopsies include:
Staging of Non-Hodgkin LymphomaIf non-Hodgkin lymphoma is confirmed, the results from the biopsy and new tests will help determine the stage of the cancer. Staging is used to identify characteristics of the cancer. Staging as well as other information like age and overall health will help develop the prognosis and treatment plan. Staging TestsStaging is determined by a number of factors. Tests will vary by individual, but may include:
Stages of Non-Hodgkin LymphomaNon-Hodgkin lymphoma is staged from 0-4:
For treatment purposes, non-Hodgkin lymphoma may also be grouped as:
References:Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—patient version. National Cancer Institute
website. Available at:
https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq.
Accessed January 28, 2021. Diagnosis. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed January 28, 2021.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Accessed January 28, 2021. Tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html. Accessed January 28, 2021. Last reviewed December 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP Last Updated: 1/28/2021 | ||
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