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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer by Type > Lymphoma: Introduction > Lymphoma: Detection and Diagnosis

Lymphoma: Detection and Diagnosis

Detection

Lymphatic tumors may be detected by several different methods. Some of these methods are discussed below:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has a high ability to clearly define details in the tissues surrounding the organs of the body. This method it is often used to detect abnormalities and tumors in the bone marrowd.⁽¹⁾
• Skeletal Scintigraphy, or Bone Scan, is used on patients with lymphoma to assess bone damage caused by tumors.⁽²⁾ In this procedure, a radioactive chemical is injected into the patient and uptake of the chemical is monitored. The use of agents that are selectively absorbed by bone produce images of the skeletal system which can be used to locate cancer.
• Computed Tomography (CT) may be used to detect lymphoma either alone or in combination with other techniques like Positron Emission Tomography.⁽³⁾⁽¹⁾
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) may be used to scan a person's entire body to find tumors. PET scans are helpful during treatment and help a physician to determine whether lymph tumors are malignant or benign.^{(3) (2)}

Learn more about cancer diagnosis and detection.

References for this page:

1. Schmidt GP, Schoenberg SO, Reiser MF, Baur-Melnyk A. "Whole-body MR imaging of bone marrow." Eur J Radiol (2005 Jul);55(1):33-40. [PUBMED]
2. Sheth S, Ali S, Fishman E. "Imaging of renal lymphoma: patterns of disease with pathologic correlation." Radiographics (2006 Jul-Aug);26(4):1151-68. [PUBMED]
3. Hicks RJ, MacManus MP, Seymour JF. Initial staging of lymphoma with positron emission tomography and computer tomography. (2005) Seminars in Nuclear Medicine. 35(3):165-75. [PUBMED]