How to diagnose lymphoma

Once a patient is diagnosed with lymphoma, it will develop very quickly if it is not treated in time. Don't joke that you might lose your life because of your momentary negligence. Many lymphoma patients are already in the late stage when they are discovered, and there is no way to surgically treat them. So how should we diagnose lymphoma? Let the experts give you a detailed introduction below!

Lymphoma cancer is diagnosed by:

1. Ultrasound scan

Ultrasound is used to draw images of the abdomen to check for any abnormalities. The test is performed in the hospital's scanning department. When you lie on your back comfortably, a thin layer of gel is applied to your abdomen, and then a small probe that produces sound waves and looks like a loudspeaker is moved over the abdomen. The echoes collected are converted into images through a computer. The ultrasound scan only takes a few minutes and is painless.

2. CT Scan (CAT Scan)

A CT scan is another type of X-ray. It takes multiple pictures of your chest and abdomen and puts them into a computer to show detailed images of your body. On the day of the scan, your hospital's scanning department will give you clear instructions about how long you should not eat or drink before the scan. You will be asked to drink a liquid dye, a few hours before the scan and once in the X-ray room. This dye helps the X-rays to produce clear images. Once you are comfortably positioned on a medical bed, the scan will begin immediately. You will have to lie still for about 30 minutes, but the scan itself is painless, and most people can go home right after the scan.

3. Blood test

During the treatment of lymphoma, blood samples will be drawn regularly. In the early stage, there is generally no special feature. Anemia is more common in the late stage with combined hemolytic anemia. White blood cells (WBC) are generally normal except in cases of bone marrow involvement. Eosinophilia is the most common in Hodgkin's disease (HD).

4. Biochemical examination

The increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate indicates that the disease has progressed; serum copper and ferritin increase as the disease progresses, but decrease during remission; zinc decreases as the disease progresses, but increases during remission. When alkaline phosphatase increases, there may be liver or bone involvement.

5. Biopsy

It is an essential examination method for diagnosing lymphoma. The site of biopsy is usually the lymph nodes in the neck or armpit.

6. Immunological abnormalities

Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients have reduced responsiveness to tuberculin and decreased in vitro lymphocyte transformation rate, the degree of which is related to the progression of the disease.

7. Bone marrow sample examination

Bone marrow samples are examined for any lymphoma cells. A small amount of bone and bone marrow samples are taken and examined under a microscope. The bone marrow is generally normal before it is invaded by lymphoma. Finding a branch of Reed-Sternberg cells in the bone marrow smear of HD is diagnostically valuable. Bone marrow biopsy should be performed on patients with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, unclear anemia, significantly decreased platelet count, suspected bone invasion on X-rays, and patients with stage III or above.

8. Mediastinoscopy

Mediastinoscopy can be performed by entering the mediastinum through the pleura to perform live cell examination, which is relatively simple and valuable for diagnosis.

In fact, there are many ways to check for lymphoma. As long as you pay close attention to your body, you can still avoid tragedies. If you find out that you have lymphoma, you should be hospitalized immediately for treatment. Don't delay any longer. Delaying for one day may lose the golden time for treatment.