Lymphoma is the general term for a group of blood cancer in our lymphatic system that involves the network of tissues, vessels and organs that helps in fighting infection. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system that is mainly of two types: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This type of cancer can quickly metastasise or spread to different tissues and organs like the liver, bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lungs, etc. Therefore, fast lymphoma diagnosis is crucial for its effective treatment.
Diagnosis of lymphoma
To diagnose the lymphoma in the suspected patient, a doctor will perform a biopsy by removing cells from an enlarged lymph node, which is then sent to a hematopathologist for examination. The other tests to diagnose lymphoma cancer are:
Computed Tomography (CT) scan :
This technique involves the use of powerful X-ray that makes detailed pictures inside of our body scan
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) :
This scan is done to take out a three-dimensional image to look for lymphoma in the bone marrow.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging :
It is a powerful technique that uses magnets and radio waves to make pictures of the lymph nodes.
Blood Tests :
These help monitor the effectiveness of treatment by taking white and red blood cell count
Bone Marrow Biopsy :
Bone marrow biopsy in which a small amount of liquid is taken from bone marrow to identify if cells present in the bone marrow are cancerous or not.
Fine needle aspiration :
A needle is used to draw out a small sample of tissue and fluids from the lump and then check for cancerous cells.
Gland Biopsy :
In this method, a section of tissue from a lymph node is taken and checked for the growth of cancer cells.
Ultrasound :
Ultrasound is done to check if the tumour is solid or fluid-filled by creating pictures of our lymph node using sound waves.
Conclusion
Early lymphoma diagnosis can improve a person's chances of successful treatment. The chances of a good outcome decrease as lymphoma progresses in our body so it is essential to seek medical attention even if we have any symptoms of common cold or infection for an extended period. Also, health insurance can help bear the expenses of the treatment.