Information for the public
How is non‑Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed?
Non‑Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed by taking a piece of tissue from an affected lymph node or other area – this is called a biopsy.
You may be offered a type of biopsy called an excision biopsy, where a surgeon removes part or all of your lymph node, usually under general anaesthetic. An excision biopsy gives your care team the best chance to find out as much as possible about your lymphoma.
If you don't have an excision biopsy your doctor can still take a small piece of tissue using a needle – this is called a core biopsy. But if diagnosis isn't possible after a core biopsy, you should then be offered an excision biopsy (unless this isn't suitable for you) rather than another core biopsy.