Occasionally, if there is any doubt about the diagnosis, it may be necessary to remove an enlarged lymph gland to look at the cells under the microscope. This is called a lymph gland biopsy and may be done under a local or general anaesthetic. It is a small operation, during which the whole gland is removed and sent to the laboratory.
Most people can go home the same day.
After the surgery, you will have a small wound with a few stitches. The stitches usually come out after about 7-10 days. You may also have a CT scan to see how many of your lymph glands are affected with CLL and whether your spleen is enlarged. A CT scan is a type of x-ray which uses a computer to build up a 3D picture of the inside of the body. It takes about 30 minutes.