A lymph node biopsy might be done to diagnose SLL. It involves the removal of a sample of tissue (cells), usually performed by a surgeon.

For this test, a doctor removes some cells from your lymph node with a needle or removes the whole or part of a lymph node during a surgical procedure, so they can be looked at under a microscope. The method used to obtain your biopsy will depend on where your nodes are found and the preferred practice in your hospital.