Lymphoma Workup

A young adult with persistent, painless supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and drenching night sweats may have lymphoma, but that presentation does not identify Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The decisive step is obtaining enough tissue to evaluate nodal architecture, morphology, immunophenotype, and, when indicated, molecular abnormalities. Blood tests and imaging then answer different questions: laboratory studies identify complications and treatment risks, while PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT map disease extent and treatment response. For the nurse practitioner, the practical sequence is suspicion → adequate biopsy → subtype → Lugano stage → risk-adapted treatment and toxicity surveillance. Airway compromise, superior vena cava syndrome, tumour lysis, febrile neutropenia, and treatment-related cardiopulmonary or neurologic toxicity can change the priority before the full workup is complete.