In 2024, the American Cancer Society projects nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. will receive a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma — the two main types of cancer that can develop in a part of your immune system called the lymphatic system. For almost all these patients, diagnostic imaging studies, such as CT scans and MRIs, will play a key role in helping identify and diagnose lymphomas. That’s why a trusted imaging provider should be on your lymphoma care team.
Surrounded by Support
If you’re diagnosed with lymphoma, you won’t face the disease alone. At Carolinas Imaging Services, we’re part of a local community of healthcare providers who form a network of support for patients with lymphoma. As part of your care team, we’ll coordinate with you and your oncologist, primary care provider and other medical providers at every step on your path to survivorship.
We show our commitment to the fight against lymphoma by partnering with local organizations, such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), to connect patients and families with resources and raise funds to support research to find a cure. For many years, we have proudly sponsored the LLS Light the Night event, an annual community gathering honoring those affected by blood cancers. A one-mile walk by lantern light through uptown Charlotte, the event raises significant funds for patient support services and life-saving research to find more cures for blood cancers.
Advancing Lymphoma Care
Recent advancements in imaging techniques enhance cancer specialists’ ability to find and stage lymphoma and determine the most effective treatment. Using the latest imaging techniques, Carolinas Imaging Services partners with patients and their care teams throughout their journey with cancer to provide essential information about the disease’s status.
For patients with lymphoma, medical advancements, like those in diagnostic imaging technology, provide a reason to be hopeful about the future. Here’s another: From the mid-to-late 1970s to the mid-to-late 2010s, the five-year relative survival rate for non-Hodgkin lymphoma rose 31 percentage points to 77%, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. During the same period, the five-year relative survival rate for Hodgkin lymphoma rose 19 percentage points to 92%.
Capturing a Diagnosis: Lymphoma and Imaging
Both non-Hodgkin lymphoma (the most common type) and Hodgkin lymphoma form in white blood cells called lymphocytes. The two types of lymphoma differ according to the presence or absence of abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, which only Hodgkin lymphoma has.
Signs of lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes in your neck, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness and an intermittent fever. Several risk factors may contribute to lymphoma, including:
- Environmental exposure
- A weakened immune system
- Autoimmune diseases
- Certain viruses, including HIV and Epstein-Barr
Each patient’s treatment plan depends on the type and stage of the disease, among other factors. Fortunately, lymphoma is often curable.
Characterizing the nature of the cancer and the appropriate course of treatment depends on accurately identifying lymphoma and gauging its size and spread early on. Only a biopsy — obtaining a lymph node sample and checking it for cancer cells under a microscope — can confirm a diagnosis. Imaging, however, has long played a key role in the diagnostic process. Decades ago, physicians relied on X-ray and ultrasound to help detect lymphoma. Now, they have even more advanced tools at their disposal, including CT scans and MRI.
Read More: CT Scan for Cancer: What Types Are Detected With This Imaging?
Harnessing Advanced Imaging Technology to Inform Effective Treatment
From identifying affected lymph nodes to helping physicians pinpoint the stage of the disease and assess treatment effectiveness, medical imaging plays an integral role in the fight against lymphoma.
The purpose of diagnostic imaging in lymphoma is multifaceted. It aids in identifying the presence of lymphoma, which is essential for accurate diagnosis. Imaging also plays a critical role in staging and determining how far the disease has spread, which is crucial for planning effective treatment. Additionally, imaging monitors and tracks the response to treatment and checks for any recurrence. Your physician may prioritize PET/CT for staging lymphomas. While this kind of exam is often conducted in a hospital setting, your physician may also order a variety of other imaging tests to aid in diagnosis and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
CT Scans
CT scans can be valuable diagnostic tools. Adept at visualizing the body’s soft tissues, these scans can show enlargement of lymph nodes or organs. They can also help determine whether lymphoma has spread to the chest, abdomen, head or another part of the body. An advanced type of CT scan called a dual-energy CT scan, which uses two X-rays to collect data at different ranges of energy, may help detect positive lymph nodes in people with lymphoma.
MRI Scans
MRI scans aren’t as common as CT scans for people with lymphoma, but they can still be useful. If, for example, a cancer specialist wants to determine whether lymphoma has spread to the main parts of the nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — they may order an MRI. A type of MRI investigation called texture analysis, and an algorithmic method called radiomics, which can reveal and quantify large amounts of unseen data from medical images, may help identify lymphoma and predict patients’ outcomes in some cases.
Additional Imaging Tests
Ultrasounds and X-rays may complement the more detailed CT scans and MRI exams, giving your physician a comprehensive view of the disease’s extent. This allows for more effective and targeted treatment planning.
Read More: How Interventional Radiology Is Transforming Cancer Treatment
Supporting Lymphoma Patients in the Community
At Charlotte Radiology and Carolinas Imaging Services, we take immense pride in being active community partners dedicated to advancing health care. In November, we look forward to another outstanding turnout for Light the Night, which will be held at American Legion Memorial Stadium. We’ll join other area healthcare providers, corporate partners, friends and families to support survivors and fighters and remember those we’ve lost.
Charlotte Radiology’s very own Robyn Stacy-Humphries, MD, emphasizes the vital role of LLS’s Light the Night initiative.
“As one of the first patients in the world to receive CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, LLS-funded research saved my life,” Dr. Stacy-Humphries says, further highlighting the significant impact of their work and the importance of supporting this cause.
As part of this year’s event, Charlotte Radiology and Carolinas Imaging Services will once again host the Women in Science tent, where we will have dedicated healthcare professionals on hand to welcome young people into the tent and lead a guided activity designed to educate and inspire the next generation. We aim to spark an interest in science and technology and encourage young minds to consider future careers in exciting STEM fields. We look forward to fostering curiosity and passion for science and health care among the youth in our community.
