Tests for NHL

 Your doctor will ask about your general health and will examine you.

You might have one or more of these tests to find out the cause of your symptoms, or to find out the size of your cancer and whether it has spread. This tells you the stage of your cancer.

Knowing the stage helps your doctor decide which treatment you need.

Lymph node biopsy

A lymph node biopsy is the only way to find out for sure why a lymph node is swollen. It can help diagnose non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). 

Chest x-ray for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Your doctor might arrange a chest x-ray to help find out if you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). 

Blood tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

You have blood tests to check your general health, including how well your liver and kidneys are working and to check the number of blood cells. 

CT scan

A CT scan might show which lymph nodes are affected by non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

PET scan

Find out how you have a PET scan to stage NHL and what happens afterwards.

PET-CT scan

A PET-CT scan combines a CT scan and a PET scan. It gives detailed information about your lymphoma.

Bone marrow test

 A bone marrow test can check whether there are lymphoma cells in your bone marrow. Find out what to expect. 

Ultrasound scan

Ultrasound scans are useful for looking at individual organs such as the liver and kidneys and showing any changes.

Lumbar puncture

A lumbar puncture checks whether lymphoma cells have spread to the spinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. 

MRI scan

An MRI scan creates pictures using magnetism and radio waves. It can show whether the lymphoma has spread to other areas of your body..

Last reviewed: 
07 Dec 2020
Next review due: 
07 Dec 2023