Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Screening and Diagnosis

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For some cancers, physicians have screening tests that check for the cancer in people who don’t have any signs or symptoms. However, physicians don’t commonly do screenings for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

If you have NHL risk factors, talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about having regular checkups to look for signs of health problems. Get to know the common symptoms of NHL and ask your PCP what to watch for. Also, keep in mind that having risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll get NHL. And some people who get NHL don’t have any known risk factors.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Care Tailored to You

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How Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Is Diagnosed

To diagnose NHL, physicians typically do an exam, blood tests and a lymph node biopsy. You might have further tests to learn more about your health and plan your care.

History and Exam for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

No matter what your risk level is, let your primary care provider know if you have any symptoms that concern you. They can help you figure out the cause.

The path to diagnosing NHL often starts with an exam. In an exam, your provider will ask about your symptoms, your health history and your family history. They’ll examine you to check for clues about what’s been bothering you. For example, they may press on your lymph nodes or the organs in your belly or check for unusual lumps.

Blood Testing for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Based on your conversation and exam, your provider may order blood tests to get more information. Blood tests don’t diagnose lymphoma. But they may help your provider tell if another condition, like an infection, may be causing your symptoms.

Blood tests can also help check for things like:

  • Your levels of healthy blood cells
  • If there are lymphoma cells in your blood
  • How well your organs are working
  • If you have high levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (which may be high in people with lymphoma)

Lymph Node Biopsy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

If your provider thinks you might have NHL — based on your symptoms, exam and any blood work — you may need a biopsy. A biopsy involves taking a tissue sample for testing. A hematopathologist is a physician who specializes in checking samples from the blood and lymph systems. They use a microscope to see if the cells from your sample are cancer. Fred Hutch Cancer Center hematopathologists are experts in diagnosing lymphoma and telling which subtype it is.

Learn About Lymph Node Biopsies for NHL

Other Tests for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

You might have other tests, either in the diagnosis process or to find out the stage of your disease. These could include imaging tests, like an X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, positron-emission tomography (PET) scan or bone scan.

Your care team may recommend other tests based on your NHL subtype and your signs and symptoms. For example, if you have a type of lymphoma that affects the digestive tract, you may need an endoscopy to check your esophagus, stomach or small intestine. You may need a colonoscopy to check your large intestine. If it seems like lymphoma is affecting your brain or spinal cord, you may need a lumbar puncture. You may have a bone marrow biopsy to check for cancer there.

Chaitra Ujjani
Dr. Chaitra Ujjani is a Fred Hutch hematologist-oncologist who specializes in in the treatment of lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Why Choose Fred Hutch for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Care

If you are thinking about coming to Fred Hutch for NHL care, you’ve already been diagnosed by your primary care provider or another provider. At Fred Hutch, our experts review your biopsy and other test results. In some cases, we may do further tests to make sure we have the details we need to design the right treatment for you. We offer a full range of tests to stage NHL and plan individualized care.

Finding out your exact NHL subtype is one of the most important steps. This helps us know the outlook for your disease and the most effective treatment. We will carefully check your tissue samples and test results to confirm which subtype you have.

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