Diagnosing Hodgkins Lymphoma
When a patient presents with symptoms that might suggest Hodgkin's lymphoma, your doctor will use several diagnostic methods to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Your doctor will ask for a complete medical history and will perform a thorough physical examination. Diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Biopsies - There are two common types of biopsy used to help diagnose blood cancers and diseases:
- Bone marrow aspiration: The sample of bone marrow is taken by putting a thin needle into the bone and removing a sample of the marrow.
- Bone marrow biopsy: A sample of both the bone and bone marrow is taken from the bone with a thick needle.
Once a bone marrow sample is obtained, it can be analyzed in a laboratory by a pathologist to determine what type of blood cancer or disease is present.
- Your doctor may want to do further tests. These tests may include radiographic evaluations.
Hodgkin's disease is always diagnosed by having a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node. A specialist called a pathologist will examine this sample carefully for signs of Hodgkin's disease.
Treating Hodgkins Lymphoma
Hodgkin's disease is often treated with a combination of:
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy (drug therapy)
Treatment is different for every patient. Our team at MedStar Health works with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, using a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment.
