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Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam. In particular, he will carefully examine your lymph nodes. Most enlarged or swollen lymph nodes result from infection, not lymphomas . If infection is suspected, you may be given medication and told to return for re-examination.
If swelling persists, your doctor may order a lymph node biopsy . For this test, your doctor will remove all or part of a lymph node. A pathologist will examine the tissue sample under a microscope. The biopsy results will show whether there is cancer, and if so, the type of the cancer that is present.
Lymphoma may be:
In addition to microscopic examination of the lymphoma, other studies may be done to determine its type and grade, including flow cytometry and cell marker studies.
If cancer is found, treatment will depend on the stage of your cancer. The doctor will order additional tests to determine the stage of the cancer. Staging is a careful attempt to determine whether the cancer has spread and, if it has, what body parts are affected.
Additional tests to determine staging may include:
The following stages are used to classify non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
References:
Lymphoma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website. Available at: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=7030 . Updated September 2008. Accessed October 9, 2008.
Non-hodgkin lymphoma. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/non-hodgkin . Accessed October 9, 2008.
What is non-hodgkin lymphoma? American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_Is_Non_Hodgkins_Lymphoma_32.asp?sitearea=CRI . Updated August 2007. Accessed October 9, 2008.
Last reviewed June 2008 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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