AIDS-related lymphoma can be diagnosed by performing a serie of tests known as staging too. Much more, by doing these tests the patient can find out if cancer cells have spread within the body, affecting other organs as well. It is important to know that the tests may easily confirm the stage of the disease and in this way the physician can prescriebe the appropriate treatment. Moreover, AIDS-related lymphoma is usually diagnosed when the illness is already advanced.



To begin with, a first common procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body is called PET scan (positron emission tomography scan). Firstly, this procedure involves the injection of radionuclide glucose into the vein in order to show in a picture made by the PET scanner where the glucose is being used in the body. So, by scanning the body, the malign tumor cells become brighter because they are more active and take up more sugar than other healthy cells.

Secondly, another well known procedure is CT scan also called computed tomography or computerisez axial tomography. CT scan is a procedure that makes a serie of pictures of the areas inside the body, showing a clear image of the organs and tissues. Moreover, a common procedure is Bone marrow biopsy which includes the removing of a small piece of bone marrow and bone from the hipbone or breatsbone in order to be examined under a microscope.

Furthermore, stages of AIDS-related lymphoma may include E which means that the cancer is found in an area or organ other than the lymph nodes or has spread to tissues beyond and S stands for spleen and means the cancer affected the spleen. In addition to this there are 4 stages which are used for AIDS-related that indicate the place where the cancer can be found, lymph nodes, organs other than the lymph nodes, near the diaphragm or spleen.

It is considered that people who suffer from Epstein-Barr virus or whose AIDS-related lymphona usually affects the bone marrow and in some cases may lead to complications, such as the spreading of cancer to the central nervous system.(CNS). Much more, CNS lymphoma which starts in other parts of the body is not considered primary as the CNS lymphoma that starts in the brain and spinal cord.