Other tests you may have at diagnosis or before starting treatment include the following:
Bone Marrow Tests
Bone marrow tests are not usually needed to make a CLL diagnosis. They may be done before treatment starts.
Bone Marrow Aspiration
A thin hollow needle is inserted into the bone (usually a bone in the back of the pelvis) and a small amount of liquid (marrow) from the bone is removed. Even with the numbing local anesthetic, this procedure can be painful for a few seconds while the marrow is withdrawn.
Bone Marrow Biopsy
The area is frozen and a slightly larger needle is inserted into the bone (usually the hip bone) to take out a small piece of bone and marrow. The procedure does not require any stitches.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
A CT scan is a series of detailed X-ray pictures that give a 3 dimensional (3D) picture of the body. This test can help find enlarged lymph nodes and abnormalities in other organs.
