The Diagnosis

Preliminary Stage

Biopsy: The removal of an enlarged lymph node and examining the cells under a microscope

Further Tests

If a biopsy shows that lymphoma cells are present, your doctor will arrange further tests for you:

• Blood test

  This is to check your general health, the levels of red and white cells and platelets in your blood, and your liver and kidney functions.

• Chest X-ray

  This is taken to check for any sign that the disease has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest.

• Bone marrow sample

  For this test, a sample of bone marrow is taken, usually from the hip bone, and examined to see if it contains any lymphoma cells.

• CT scan (CAT scan)

  A CT scan is another type of X-ray. A number of pictures are taken of the chest and abdomen and fed into a computer to form a detailed picture of the inside of the body.

The following tests are less common but may be considered necessary in some cases:

• Lymphangiogram (lymphogram)

  This test is done to check for any signs that the disease has spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen or pelvis.

• Intravenous urogram

  This test is also known as an IVU or IVP and it shows up any abnormalities in the kidneys or urinary system.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (also called MRI or NMR)

  The test is similar to a CT scan, but it uses magnetism instead of X-rays to build up a series of cross-section pictures of the body.