Diagnosis
Imaging Tests
Your doctor may order imaging tests if your medical history and physical examination suggest a possible diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Your doctor looks for:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the chest or abdomen or both
- Masses outside the lymph nodes in lung, bone or other body tissue
Imaging tests can include:
- A chest X-ray
- A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, pelvis and abdomen (stomach area)
- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- A positron emission tomography (PET) scan
- A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan of the entire body with a radioactive tracer
Lymph Node Biopsy
Diagnosing Hodgkin lymphoma usually involves performing a lymph node biopsy. If the biopsy confirms that you have the disease, your doctor performs additional tests to stage the lymphoma.
The lymph node biopsy’s purpose is to confirm a diagnosis and:
- Identify the subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma