Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas (cont.)
Staging
Your doctor needs to know the extent (stage) of non-Hodgkin lymphoma to plan
the best treatment. Staging is a careful attempt to find out what parts of the
body are affected by the disease.
Lymphoma usually starts in a lymph node. It can spread to nearly any other
part of the body. For example, it can spread to the liver, lungs, bone, and bone
marrow.
Staging may involve one or more of the following tests:
- Bone marrow biopsy: The doctor uses a thick needle to remove a small sample
of bone and bone marrow from your hipbone or another large bone. Local
anesthesia can help control pain. A pathologist looks for lymphoma cells in the
sample.
- CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed
pictures of your head, neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis. You may receive an
injection of contrast material. Also, you may be asked to drink another type of
contrast material. The contrast material makes it easier for the doctor to see
swollen lymph nodes and other abnormal areas on the x-ray.
- MRI: Your doctor may order MRI pictures of your spinal cord, bone marrow, or
brain. MRI uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer. It makes detailed
pictures of tissue on a computer screen or film.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound device sends out sound waves that you cannot hear.
A small hand-held device is held against your body. The waves bounce off nearby
tissues, and a computer uses the echoes to create a picture. Tumors may produce
echoes that are different from the echoes made by healthy tissues. The picture
can show possible tumors.
- Spinal tap: The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove fluid from the
spinal column. Local anesthesia can help control pain. You must lie flat for a
few hours afterward so that you don't get a headache. The lab checks the fluid
for lymphoma cells or other problems.
- PET scan: You receive an injection of a small amount of radioactive sugar. A
machine makes computerized pictures of the sugar being used by cells in your
body. Lymphoma cells use sugar faster than normal cells, and areas with lymphoma
look brighter on the pictures.
The stage is based on where lymphoma cells are
found (in the lymph nodes or in other organs or tissues). The stage also depends
on how many areas are affected. The stages of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are as
follows:
- Stage I: The lymphoma cells are in one lymph node group (such as in the neck
or underarm). Or, if the abnormal cells are not in the lymph nodes, they are in
only one part of a tissue or organ (such as the lung, but not the liver or bone
marrow).
- Stage II: The lymphoma cells are in at least two lymph node groups on the
same side of (either above or below) the diaphragm. Or, the lymphoma cells are in one part of an organ and the lymph
nodes near that organ (on the same side of the diaphragm). There may be lymphoma
cells in other lymph node groups on the same side of the diaphragm.
- Stage III: The lymphoma is in lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm. It
also may be found in one part of a tissue or an organ near these lymph node
groups.
- Stage IV: Lymphoma cells are found in several parts of one or more organs or
tissues (in addition to the lymph nodes). Or, it is in the liver, blood, or bone
marrow.
- Recurrent: The disease returns after treatment.
In addition to these stage
numbers, your doctor may also describe the stage as A or B:
- A: You have not had weight loss, drenching night sweats, or fevers.
- B: You have had weight loss, drenching night sweats, or fevers.
Next: What is the treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? »
- dexamethasone oral, Decadron, DexPak - Information on dexamethasone oral (Decadron, DexPak), a drug used to reduce inflammation in many conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Night Sweats - Night sweats have many different causes. A doctors must take a complete medical history and order tests to find the cause of the underlying medical condition that is responsible for night sweats.
Latest Medical News
Cancer RSS