Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis & Detection
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Diagnosing Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
An accurate non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) diagnosis ensures you receive the most effective treatment plan possible. In addition, diagnostic tests play an important role in monitoring the disease and the progress of treatment.
When diagnosing NHL, your team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) will use state-of-the-art tools to accurately identify, locate and stage the disease. Then, we’ll formulate treatment recommendations best suited to you.
Your NHL team at CTCA will work alongside you to understand your unique needs and create an individualized treatment plan. Since we often get imaging results the same day and biopsy results within 24 hours, this process generally takes no more than three days.
Throughout your NHL treatment, we’ll use the latest diagnostic tests to track the size of the tumors, monitor your response to treatment and make any necessary modifications to your plan.
Diagnostic Tools for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Your team at CTCA may use any of the following diagnostic tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma to plan and monitor your treatment:
- Health History – To determine your health now and in the past.
- Physical Examination – To determine the size and consistency of your lymph nodes.
- Blood and Urine Tests – To rule out an infection or other disease and determine if the lymphoma has spread.
- Liver Function Tests – To measure the amounts of certain substances (e.g., lactate dehydrogenase, or LDH, enzyme) released into the blood by the liver.
- Biopsy – Removal of a small amount of tissue to determine the type of lymphoma, the growth rate of the tumor and whether the disease has spread.
- Bone marrow biopsy – removal of a sample of bone marrow
- Lymph node biopsy – removal of all or part of a lymph node
- Lumbar Puncture (i.e., spinal tap) – Removal of cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal cavity in the lower back to determine the extent of the disease.
- Flow Cytometry – A test for non-Hodgkin lymphoma which passes cancerous cells (stained with a light-sensitive dye) under a laser beam to determine whether the cells contain a normal or abnormal amount of DNA, and the relative rate at which a tumor is growing.
- MUGA Scan – A nuclear medicine test used to evaluate and monitor changes in the function of the heart.
- Imaging Tests – To determine the location and size of tumors in the body.
- X-Ray
- CT scan
- PET scan
- PET/CT scan
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- 2D Echocardiogram (in some cases)
- Pulmonary Function Test (in some cases)
Next Steps to NHL Treatment That’s Right for You
To learn more about CTCA cancer hospitals and our approach to treating and diagnosing NHL, call us anytime at 1-800-615-3055 or Chat Now. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to listen and help you decide if CTCA is right for you.
Next Topic: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Staging
