December 25, 2023
Symptoms of early-stage lymphoma are often insidious and can include fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Therefore, further examination and screening are necessary for patients with these non-specific symptoms. The following are the main methods for early diagnosis of lymphoma:
1. Physical examination: The doctor will conduct a detailed physical examination, focusing on palpating the lymph node area to check whether there are swollen lymph nodes. Of particular note, for intestinal lymphoma, abdominal palpation should be performed to check for an enlarged spleen.
2. Blood test: A complete blood test is an important step in the early diagnosis of lymphoma. This includes blood routine, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, tumor markers, etc., which can help doctors evaluate the patient's overall health status and detect abnormal indicators.
3. Imaging examinations: mainly include X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, etc., which can evaluate the size, shape and other possible metastasis sites of lymph nodes. For example, a chest X-ray or CT scan can detect whether there are enlarged lymph nodes in the chest, mediastinum, or retroperitoneum.
4. Lymph node biopsy: By taking lymph node biopsy tissue for pathological examination, the diagnosis of lymphoma, including pathological type, grade and stage, can be determined to guide subsequent treatment plans. Biopsies can be performed by aspiration techniques, surgery, or lymph node dissection.
Although the above methods are the main means for early diagnosis of lymphoma, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:
1. Patient self-observation: Individuals need to be keenly aware of changes in physical conditions, detect their own discomfort symptoms in a timely manner, and seek medical treatment in a timely manner.
2. Doctor’s professional guidance: If there is an abnormality in the body, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time and actively communicate with the doctor, describe the symptoms in detail, and cooperate with the doctor to conduct physical examination and necessary examinations.
3. Comprehensive evaluation: Since lymphoma has diverse manifestations, especially early symptoms, the establishment of diagnosis usually requires the cooperation of multiple departments, including internists, oncologists, radiologists, etc.
In summary, early diagnosis of lymphoma is of great significance to the treatment and prognosis of patients. Through a combination of physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests, lymph node biopsy and other methods, lymphoma can be accurately diagnosed and a reasonable treatment plan can be developed for the patient. At the same time, close cooperation between patients and doctors is also the key to early diagnosis.
