Lymphoma Diagnosis

Lymphoma is a medical condition that causes enlargement of lymph nodes. It is actually a term used to describe a group of cancers that affect the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are organs of the body that are a part of the immune system and help in building the defense of the body against infections and diseases. These lymph glands are found all over the body. The lymphoma diagnosis are made if the doctor suspects a patient is exhibiting symptoms of enlarged lymph nodes. The following paragraphs will uncover some information related to lymphoma diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Lymphoma

Most of the time the symptoms and diagnosis of lymphoma are made by the patient himself. This is because some of the lymphoma cancer symptoms are but obvious. However, if you are confused regarding the symptoms and diagnosis of lymphoma, then read on.

Lymphoma is caused by changes in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are stored in the lymph glands and when these cells grow abnormally, it leads to malignant tumors of the lymph nodes. The exact cause of lymphoma is not known. It is generally seen in people with a weak immune system. There are over 35 types of lymphoma of which non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the most common. The less than common type is the Hodgkin's disease that is easier to treat than the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The symptoms of lymphoma include most of the following signs:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Painless, swollen lymph nodes of neck, chest, abdomen, groin and in skin
• Recurring fevers
• Night sweats
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling on face and neck

How is Lymphoma Diagnosed

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should visit a doctor. In order to overcome the worst case scenarios, the doctor will first carry out lymphoma diagnosis. Thinking how is lymphoma diagnosed? The lymphoma diagnosis and treatment are both explained in the following paragraphs.

Physical Examination
The doctor will first carry out a complete physical examination to be sure the symptoms are not caused by other minor infections. The doctor will carry out a number of tests to determine presence of lymphoma. The lymphoma diagnostic tests include one or more of the test mentioned below.

Blood Test
A blood test does not help confirm symptoms and diagnosis of lymphoma. It merely helps show that there is something wrong somewhere in the lymph nodes. When the count of lymphocyte is unusually high or the test results show high levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), it prompts the doctor to carry out further tests.

Imaging
The doctor will advice radio imaging diagnostic tests to determine any unusual growth within the body. These test include X-rays, CT Scan, MRI, PET Scan, etc.

Biopsy
The most important test for lymphoma diagnosis is biopsy. This test helps confirm the presence of lymphoma and even deny there is any form of cancer. A biopsy is a tissue test that is carried out by taking a tissue sample of the lymph node. This is a kind of surgical procedure and the doctor can carry out different types of biopsy's to determine presence or absence of lymphoma. The types of biopsy's include:

• Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
• Large needle or Core biopsy
• Surgical biopsy (includes incision and excision procedures)

Type of Lymphoma
After the confirming reports of lymphoma biopsy, the doctor will determine the type of lymphoma. This is done by a simple microscopic examination of the cells. Or the labs may add special markers to identify the cells of lymphoma cells. This helps determining whether it is a Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Bone Marrow Testing
Once lymphoma diagnosis is confirmed with the type of lymphoma, the doctor will carry out a bone marrow biopsy. This is to determine the spread of lymphoma to bone marrow. Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is commonly seen affecting the bone marrow. Thus, testing the bone marrow is a common diagnostic procedure.

The lymphoma treatment is decided on the basis of number of factors. These factors include the stage of lymphoma, general health of patient, medical history of patient, age and similar factors. The lymphoma diagnosis and treatment includes:

• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Stem cell transplant
• Clinical trails in case the patient volunteers

This was all about how is lymphoma diagnosed. If you suspect any of the unusual signs given out by your body, speak to your doctor. Only an experienced medical practitioner will be able to carry out correct lymphoma diagnosis. The lymphoma survival rate depends a lot on early lymphoma diagnosis and treatment. In order to stop the spread of cancer, make sure you do not take any health symptoms lightly.