In suspected lymphoma, which test is most appropriate to stage the disease after diagnosis?

• A. Bone marrow biopsy
• B. Lymph node biopsy
• C. Chest CT scan
• D. PET scan

Answer: (C)

Staging lymphoma is about mapping where the disease has spread and which nodes or organs are involved to guide treatment. A chest CT scan provides a detailed anatomical view of the chest, showing the size, number, and location of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes and any involvement of nearby structures like the lungs. This thoracic map helps determine the extent of the disease and informs stage assignment and planning.

Bone marrow biopsy looks for lymphoma in the bone marrow, which matters for staging only if marrow involvement is present, but it doesn’t give the full picture of nodal distribution. Lymph node biopsy is used to obtain a tissue diagnosis rather than to stage the entire disease. A PET scan can detect metabolically active disease throughout the body and is very useful for modern staging, but if a single best initial staging test is chosen, a chest CT scan is the most informative for assessing thoracic involvement and contributing to the overall stage.