Diagnostic Tests For Hodgkin's Disease

In screening blood tests there might be a low lymphocyte count coupled with anemia. If the alkaline phosphatase is elevated in the blood tests, this is highly suggestive of involvement of the bone marrow or liver or both.

As in other forms of cancer, the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease is done by biopsy to obtain some tissue from the patient, which is analyzed by the pathologist. The Hodgkin's cell has a typical appearance under the microscope and is known among physicians as the "Reed-Sternberg cell".

The diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease is made when biopsy material or fine needle aspirates from lymph glands, liver, bone marrow or other affected tissue origin is analyzed by the pathologist and Reed-Sternberg cells are found. Furthermore with monoclonal antibodies immunotyping can be done, which can help to distinguish in difficult cases between Hodgkin's disease and non Hodgkin's disease. This is absolutely mandatory before embarking on invasive therapy.

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Disclaimer:

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References:

1. N Engl J Med 329(14):987-994,1997.

2. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th edition, editors M.Beers and R.Berkow. Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999.

3. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 4th edition, edited by V.T. DeVita et al., Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1993. Chapters 51 and 52.

4. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 2. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter 44,Lymphomas.

5. HY Dong et al. Mod Pathol 2001 May;14(5):472-481.

6. NL Kobrinsky et al. J Clin Oncol 2001 May 1;19(9):2390-2396.

Last Modified: Jan. 31, 2007