Hematology focuses on diseases of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment of anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Diagnosing lymphoma is a meticulous process that requires distinguishing it not only from benign conditions but also from other types of cancer. Because there are over 60 subtypes of lymphoma, a simple diagnosis of “lymphoma” is never enough. The precise subtype must be identified to determine the correct chemotherapy regimen. At Liv Hospital, we employ a multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway involving hematologists, oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists to ensure that every patient receives an accurate molecular diagnosis and precise staging.
The diagnostic journey begins with a thorough clinical evaluation.
The doctor feels the lymph nodes in the neck, axilla (armpit), and groin to assess their size, texture, and mobility. They also palpate the abdomen to check for an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) or liver (hepatomegaly).
A detailed history of “B symptoms” (fever, night sweats, weight loss) is recorded, as their presence significantly impacts the staging and treatment plan.
Imaging can suggest lymphoma, but only a biopsy can confirm it.
This is the preferred method. The surgeon removes an entire lymph node. This provides the pathologist with the full architecture of the node, which is crucial for distinguishing between lymphoma types (e.g., Follicular Lymphoma vs. Reactive Hyperplasia).
If the node is very large or in a difficult location, a piece of the node is removed.
A hollow needle is used to remove a cylinder of tissue. This is generally less informative than an excisional biopsy and is usually reserved for cases where surgery is not possible or to sample hard to reach masses in the chest or abdomen guided by CT.
This uses a thin needle to suck out fluid and cells. FNA is generally not sufficient to diagnose lymphoma because it disrupts the cell structure needed for classification.
Once the tissue is obtained, advanced laboratory techniques are used.
The tissue sample is treated with antibodies that stick to specific proteins on the cell surface. This helps determine if the lymphoma started in B cells or T cells.
Cells are suspended in fluid and passed through a laser beam to analyze their physical and chemical characteristics. This creates a “fingerprint” of the cells based on their surface markers (CD markers, like CD20, CD30).
This involves looking at the chromosomes within the lymphoma cells. Tests like FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) check for specific translocations (like the MYC gene in Burkitt Lymphoma) that predict how aggressive the cancer is.
Mapping the Disease
Imaging is used to see where the lymphoma is located deep inside the body.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) combined with CT is the standard for staging. The patient is injected with a radioactive sugar. Lymphoma cells are highly active and absorb this sugar, lighting up on the scan. This distinguishes active cancer from scar tissue.
Computed Tomography of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis provides detailed cross sectional images to measure the size of lymph nodes and organ involvement.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging may be used if the lymphoma is suspected to affect the brain or spinal cord.
Since lymphoma cells circulate in the blood, they can settle in the bone marrow.
A needle is inserted into the hip bone to remove a sample of liquid marrow and a small core of bone. This is examined to see if the lymphoma has spread to the marrow, which would classify the disease as Stage IV.
Staging determines the extent of the spread.
Involvement of a single lymph node region or a single extra lymphatic organ.
Involvement of two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm (either above or below).
Involvement of lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm.
Widespread involvement of one or more extra lymphatic organs (like liver, lungs, bone marrow) with or without associated lymph node involvement.
Letters are added to the stage: “A” means no systemic symptoms; “B” means the presence of fever, night sweats, or weight loss.
Before starting chemotherapy, baseline organ function must be checked because some drugs can affect the heart and lungs.
Checks heart function (ejection fraction) before using anthracyclines (like doxorubicin).
Checks lung capacity before using bleomycin, a drug used in Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
A urologist is a surgeon trained to treat conditions of the urinary tract in both men and women. A urogynecologist has specific training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, focusing on conditions like bladder prolapse and female incontinence.
The bladder lining (urothelium) has a high regenerative capacity and heals quickly after minor trauma or infection. However, the muscle layer (detrusor) does not regenerate well. If the muscle is damaged by chronic overdistention or fibrosis, the loss of function is often permanent.
Yes, psychological stress can exacerbate bladder symptoms. The bladder has many nerve receptors sensitive to stress hormones. “Stress incontinence” refers to physical pressure (coughing/sneezing), but anxiety can trigger “urgency” and frequency, mimicking Overactive Bladder symptoms.
Yes, the bladder’s functional capacity tends to decrease with age. Furthermore, the elasticity of the bladder wall reduces, and the kidneys produce more urine at night (nocturnal polyuria), leading to increased nighttime urination in older adults.
Neurogenic bladder is a term used when the nerve control of the bladder is disrupted due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition (like diabetes or MS). This can cause the bladder to either be unable to hold urine (incontinence) or unable to empty it (retention).
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
