The diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma can only be made by a tissue biopsy
-- cutting a tissue sample for examination. If you have an enlarged,
painless lymph node that your doctor suspects may be due to Hodgkin
lymphoma, tissue will be taken for biopsy or the entire node will be
removed. The diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma can be confirmed if a type of
cell, called a Reed-Sternberg cell, is seen.
If a biopsy reveals
that you do have Hodgkin lymphoma, you may need additional tests to
determine the extent, or stage, of the disease. Tests include blood
tests, chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest, abdomen
and pelvis, and possibly the neck, and a PET scans. Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scans, bone scans, spinal tap (lumbar puncture), and bone
marrow studies are useful under special circumstances.
These tests will confirm the stage of the disease and the best type of therapy to pursue.
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