Biopsy
Biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming cancer diagnosis and Hodgkin’s is no different. Biopsy is usually taken from lymph nodes proven to be affected either by clinical examination or after performing an ultrasonography.
The lymph node has to be completely excised and the doctor may advise you to perform a fine needle aspiration first to confirm the lymph node involvement. The specimen is then sent to the pathology lab and examined under the microscope, such examination will determine the histological type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma which is essential for planning treatment and determining outcome.