A radiologist can identify signs and features suspicious for lymphoma on imaging studies (CT, PET, MRI, ultrasound), but a biopsy is the only definitive way to confirm a diagnosis of lymphoma.
Your doctor may conduct imaging studies (see below), such as CT scans, X-rays, and PET scans, of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Radiologists look for an enlarged spleen or lymph nodes, or abnormal retinal veins. PET scanning can identify patients who are candidates for chemotherapy treatment alone.
Computed tomography (CT) scan to look for lymphoma signs such as enlarged lymph nodes, spleen or other organs. Positron emissions tomography (PET) scans to detect signs of cancer. PET scans are usually combined with low-resolution CT scans and are sometimes used in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
How is Lymphoma Diagnosed? Your doctor may order a blood test if they notice enlarged lymph nodes during a physical exam, along with other signs or possible symptoms of lymphoma. However, a blood test alone cannot diagnose lymphoma in most cases. A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose lymphoma.
PET-CT scan
During the scan, the tracer shows up areas of the body where cells are more active. A PET-CT scan can show how far the Hodgkin lymphoma has spread and allows your doctor to decide what stage disease you have.
The most common early sign of lymphoma is a painless enlarged lymph node(s) in the neck or upper chest. Sometimes you can feel the swollen lymph node(s) in your armpit, stomach area or groin.
Because infections are the most common cause of enlarged lymph nodes, the doctor will look for an infection near the swollen lymph nodes. The doctor also might order blood tests to look for signs of infection or other problems. Blood tests aren't used to diagnose lymphoma, though.
The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless swelling or lump in the neck, armpit or groin. This is caused by lymphoma cells building up in the lymph nodes, which makes them bigger.
Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:
Malignant lymphoma typically presents with homogeneous enhancement of enlarged lymph nodes without internal necrotic or cystic changes on multiphasic CT, which can be suspected without invasive diagnostic methods.
Symptoms
MRI: An MRI scan is helpful in detecting lymphoma that has spread to the spinal cord or brain.
A diagnosis of lymphoma is confirmed by tissue biopsy, and commonly used methods include fine-needle aspiration, core biopsy, incision/wedge biopsy, and excisional biopsy. Excisional biopsy is considered the "gold standard" as it allows for the assessment of whole lymph node architecture.
An MRI can show if there's a tumor and give clues about whether it's benign or malignant. Radiologists, the doctors who read these scans, look for certain signs. For example, benign tumors often have smooth, well-defined edges, while malignant ones can appear jagged or irregular.
A hematologist-oncologist (an expert in blood cancers) can accurately diagnose lymphoma and recommend lymphoma treatments.
Cancer-related fatigue is exhaustion that's at a much higher level than would usually be expected. It can be physical, emotional or mental. You might feel very tired after doing quite little. Fatigue can affect different areas of your life.
Common signs and symptoms of lymphoma
Castleman disease is a rare condition that happens when too many cells grow in your lymph nodes, the small organs that filter out germs. After a while, hard growths form. Castleman disease isn't cancer. But it can act a lot like lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes.
Indolent lymphoma, also known as low-grade lymphoma, is a group of slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Because they spread slowly, they tend to have fewer signs and symptoms when first diagnosed and may not require immediate treatment.
There isn't a blood test that will show whether or not you have lymphoma. But blood tests can check your general health and can sometimes pick up problems caused by lymphoma. Blood tests can check: how well your liver and kidneys are working.
NHL usually starts in lymph nodes or other lymph tissue, but it can sometimes affect the skin.
From the available research, there isn't strong evidence that stress can cause or worsen lymphoma or any type of cancer, or that it can make it come back (relapse).
Having a high white blood cell count (15,000 or higher). Having a low lymphocyte count (below 600 or less than 8% of the white blood cell count).
Computer Tomography (CT) Scan
Patients with lymphoma often have CT scans of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis to find out how many lymph nodes are involved, how large they are, and whether internal organs are affected by the disease.
Although both diseases can be diagnosed at any age, Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in young adults ages 15 to 40 and older adults over age 55. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically diagnosed in adults over age 60. Some viruses may make you more likely to get both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.