Lymphoma Diagnosis

Accurate and precise diagnosis of lymphoma helps doctors choose the best course of treatment for their patients. It plays a big part in your chances for successful treatment.

At MD Anderson, our group of experts is among the most experienced and skilled in the nation in diagnosing lymphoma. In fact, we are one of the few cancer centers with hematopathologists, specialized doctors who focus on diagnosing lymphoma and other blood cancers, on your care team. They use the most modern equipment to find out the precise extent of disease. This can make a huge difference in accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.

Lymphoma diagnostic tests

If you have symptoms that may signal lymphoma, your doctor will examine you and ask you questions about your health and your medical history. One or more of the following tests may be used to find out if you have cancer and if it has spread. These tests also may be used to find out if treatment is working.

• Lymph node biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed from a lymph node and looked at under a microscope. Sometimes the entire node is removed.
  
• Imaging tests, which may include:
  
  • X-rays
    
  • CT or CAT (computed axial tomography) scans
    
  • PET (positron emission tomography) scans
    
  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans
    
• Blood tests: These are conducted to determine if blood cells are normal in number and appearance, and if blood chemistry is normal. If you have been diagnosed with lymphoma, certain blood tests may help doctors determine your outlook.
  
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: During this procedure, doctors use a long needle to remove bone marrow from a large bone, usually the pelvic bone.
  
• Liver and kidney function tests: These tests can help diagnose the disease and support the prognosis. 
  
• Echocardiogram and pulmonary function tests: These tell doctors how well the heart (echocardiogram) and lungs (pulmonary function tests) are working before treatment begins. This information tells doctors how intense a patient’s treatment can be.
  
• Immunophenotyping: Cells from a lymph node, blood or bone marrow are examined to determine the patient’s lymphoma subtype. Doctors use this information to plan the best possible treatment.

Some types of lymphoma can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our genetic testing page to learn more.