How are lymphomas diagnosed?

• May 17, 2024

Many people suffering from cancer of the lymphatic system remain undiagnosed for a long time because they do not know their symptoms.

Signs of lymphoma include growth of the lymph nodes that usually cause pain; lumps in the neck, armpits or groin; sudden loss of weight, continuous fever; excessive sweating during the night, extreme itching in all parts of the body, rapid loss of appetite; fatigue or feeling of fatigue, weakness despite eating regularly; swollen neck and face, along with lack of air.

Apart from the lymphatic system, experts say that lymphoma can also occur in other parts of the body or organs such as the stomach. Thus, when at least three of these symptoms become persistent, it would be best to consult a doctor.

Options for the diagnosis of lymphoma

Most common tests and procedures include biopsies, knowing the type of lymphoma and other similar tests.

Biopsy

This is considered as the first step in the diagnosis of lymphoma. In general, doctors practice what they call an excisional biopsy, in which they take a small sample of tissue from the affected organs or the patient's lymph nodes.

Once the sample is taken, the pathologist will examine it under a microscope to find out if the patient has cancer that could cause lymphoma.

The most common type of biopsy is the lymph node. However, when cancer cells affect areas such as the brain, skin, abdomen, or stomach, a biopsy of the affected organ must be done.

How to determine the type of lymphoma

Once the biopsy has been done, the following would be the way to determine the type of lymphoma there is. There are more than 20 types of lymphoma, but all are enrolled in two categories that include Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma .

This can be determined by the pathologist, once he has examined the tissue sample.

The tests after diagnosis

After the type of lymphoma has been determined, a series of very important tests must be done in order to know exactly the magnitude of the cancer cells, where they have spread and the potential damage to the affected organ.

Other tests may include bone marrow and PET for lymphoma, among others. These are crucial for the patient to undergo necessary treatments that would make their condition much better.

Video Medicine: Hodgkin's lymphoma: What you need to know - Mayo Clinic (May 2024).