Patient selection: malignant lymphoma, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's disease
Some of the "other" sites that can be involved by lymphoma include:
(1) skin
(2) bone marrow
(3) bone
(4) lung
(5) heart
(6) gastrointestinal tract
If the lymphoma shows FDG ([18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose) avidity (based on histology) then PET-CT imaging is performed, else CT.
Criteria for lymphomatous involvement:
(1) signs and symptoms relevant to site
(2) increased FDG uptake on PET-CT scan if FDG-avid
(3) nodules or mass lesions on imaging studies
(4) biopsy shows lymphoma based on morphology and flow cytometry
The diagnostic certainty increases if other causes of lymph node enlargement or increased FDG uptake are excluded.
