这些测试可以确定非霍奇金的淋巴瘤

byKatherine Malmo Health Writer

One of every47 of Americans will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphomaduring their lifetime. This risk may be greater for people who have had other cancers, smoke, or have a family history of lymphoma. How will your doctor learn if you have this cancer type or if it has advanced? Here are thetesting types you might undergo.

Doctor checking lymph nodes during exam.
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Your doctor will likely do a medical exam

如果医生怀疑淋巴瘤,他们将进行体检,寻找淋巴结肿大等症状或扩大的脾脏。他们也可能会问你有关其他症状。你有夜间汗水还是烧伤?您的医生将想知道,因为这些可能是癌症类型的指示。

Lymph node biopsy concept.
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Biopsy: Removing tissue to look for cancerous cells

在活组织检查期间, tissue is removed and inspected for cancerous cells. The doctor may take part or all of a lymph node. If the node is near the skin, the procedure is simpler and may only require local anesthesia. If the node is deeper, it may require surgery. Or, the doctor may choose to do a fine needle aspiration or a core needle biopsy. In both of these procedures, a needle is inserted into the node to remove tissue for a pathologist to examine.

血液小瓶标记为CBC测试。
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Blood test can help doctors determine how advanced lymphoma is

Once non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is diagnosed, a simple blood draw, where a phlebotomist inserts a needle into your vein, may help determine the extent of the disease. A完全血统(CBC)measures the levels of different cells in the blood. Blood chemistry tests can also provide information on how the kidney and liver are functioning.

Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy concept.
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Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy performed following diagnosis

Thesetests are done after diagnosis and often at the same time. They determine the extent of disease and if the cancer cells have reached the bone marrow. For the aspiration, the doctor numbs the surface of the backside of your hip, a hollow needle is inserted into the bone, and a small marrow sample is removed. During the bone marrow biopsy, a small piece of the bone is removed. Both of these procedures can cause brief pain.

Doctor examining chest x-ray.
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胸部x光片可以帮助医生阶段非霍奇金lymphoma

X-rays provide images骨骼,器官和组织。这些图像和其他扫描,有助于识别某些症状的原因,确定疾病的阶段,有助于展示治疗是否有效,并观察复发的迹象。对于测试,当技术人员将相机定位捕获图像时,您被要求仍然躺在静止台上。

Radiologist viewing CT scan.
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CT scan helps show how much cancer has spread

ACT scan uses X-ray images taken at different angles创建一个区域的3D视图。在扫描之前,您将获得口腔或静脉内对比度染料,从而提高了图像的质量。CT机器的形状像在其侧面的大甜甜圈一样,并且您被要求躺在相邻的桌子上,在拍摄照片时滑入扫描仪的中心。这种类型的扫描可以帮助确定您的癌症的传播程度。

医生与患者谈话在MRI之前
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核磁共振成像扫描often done when doctors suspect advance of disease

与CT扫描一样,您可以使用鲜明对比染料核磁共振成像扫描. Then radio waves and magnetic fields are used to create detailed images of the body’s soft tissues. Usually, MRIs are used for lymphoma patients when the doctor is concerned about spread of the disease to the spinal cord or brain. Patients are asked to lie on a table that moves inside a donut-shaped machine. The MRI machine also makes a loud noise, and patients are often provided with earphones to listen to music.

PET scan instrument.
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PET scans can also show how much cancer has spread

For this test, patients are injected with a small amount of radioactive sugar that is taken up by cancer cells. The scanner images show the areas where this substance is concentrated in tumors. Like the CT scanner, the PET scan machine is shaped like a donut on its side and the table slides into the center. It does not make the loud noise like an MRI machine. These images are not as detailed as CT scans or MRI’s, but they can identify how far the disease has spread.

Doppler echocardiogram of heart.
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其他测试也是可能的

These are the most common tests used to diagnose lymphoma. Sometimes bone scans are done if the patient is having bone pain. And超声心动图,multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan, or pulmonary function tests are often requested for patients who require chemotherapy and may be at risk for heart or lung problems.

Meet Our Writer
Katherine Malmo

Katherine Malmo is a freelance writer and author who was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer 13 years ago. Her memoir, “Who in This Room: The Realities of Cancer, Fish, and Demolition,” was published in 2011 and a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. These days, she lives in Seattle and writes mostly about cancer and advances in cancer treatments.