Tests for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

There are different types of blood tests that you might have for ALL, find out what they are and how you have them.

This test checks for cancer cells in the bone marrow. Find out what to expect.

A lumbar puncture checks whether leukaemia cells have spread to the spinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Find out more.

An x-ray is a test that uses small doses of radiation to take pictures of the inside of your body. Find out what to expect when you have a chest x-ray.

You usually have a CT scan of your neck, chest, tummy (abdomen) and pelvis to check for abnormal areas. Find out what a CT scan is and how you have it. 

Although rare, you might need an MRI scan if you have ALL such as if you have symptoms that suggest you have bleeding in the central nervous system (CNS). Find out what to expect.

You might have an ultrasound to check your lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Read about what happens.

This is a blood or saliva test to check your tissue type. Most adults with ALL at diagnosis have tissue typing in case they might ever need a bone marrow transplant from someone else (a donor transplant).

A PET-CT scan in ALL is not routine, but you might need one. Find out how you have it and what happens after it.