Diagnosis

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
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