How is lymphoma diagnosed?
First, health-care providers will look for the source of any symptoms. Blood tests can be helpful (e.g., uric acid and LDH levels), as can an MRI, PET scans, computed tomography (CT), or gallium scanning. If a tumor is suspected, a biopsy will then be performed. During a biopsy, a sample of the tumor will be collected as a part of a surgical procedure and sent to a lab for analysis. A biopsy of the bone marrow and a spinal tap are often necessary to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the tumor. Treating the lymphoma depends on this information. Both Hodgkin’s disease and NHL are classified by the same categories of stages. Most lymphomas in HIV-positive people involve B-cells, as opposed to T-cells. The stage of the lymphoma is very important and can help determine prognosis and the course of treatment. The four stages are: The 4 Stages of Lymphoma Stage I: There is one cancer site. No bone marrow involvement. Stage II: There are two sites; both are either above or below the dia
