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