Lymphoma Diagnosis

Lymphoma is a malignancy found in the lymphatic system.  It can be mistaken for other diseases such as infectious mononucleosis and TB, so definitive lymphoma diagnosis must be done to rule out the presence or absence of such infection or condition.

·         Medical history and physical exam – history will trace when the signs and symptoms typical to lymphoma were observed, as well as its duration.  The nodes are then palpated and noted for presence of pain and size.  Any presence of splenomagaly and hepatomagaly, petechia and pruritus are seen as an indication of lymphoma and would warrant further studies. 

·         Biopsy – this is always the most reliable test to confirm the presence or absence of a malignancy.  A tissue is surgically removed from a growth or tumor.  The tissue sample is then given to a pathologist.  The sample is studied under a microscope and any malignancy found will be used to confirm lymphoma diagnosis.  It is highly advisable to have a biopsy when a lymph node is more than 2.0 cm in size and if the person is more than 40 years old.  The presence of Reed-Sternberg cells can also aid in classifying if the lymphoma is a Hodgkin’s lymphoma or a Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

·         Blood tests – this is done to rule out any other forms of medical conditions such as a viral infection or leukemia.  

·         Imaging tests – X-ray, CT-Scan, MRI, and PET scan is used to see the extent of the malignancy, and also to see if there are other unseen malignancies.  

·         Bone marrow aspiration – this is used to rule out any other medical condition that may be causing the reported signs and symptoms. 

Early lymphoma diagnosis will help the prognosis of the condition. Lymphoma is noted as one of the curable forms of cancer when detected early and treated correctly. It can be very confusing to know if you do have lymphoma. A consultation with the doctor is a must if you have swollen, rubbery, non-tender lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin that is more than 3 weeks in duration coupled with night sweats and unexplained weight loss for a lymphoma diagnosis.