B Cell Lymphoma and Prognosis
Diffuse Large B Cell and Follicular Lymphoma

B cell lymphoma is one of the subtypes of Non Hodgkins lymphoma. It is a cancer that starts in the B lymphocytes or B immune cells of your lymphatic system. The most common types are large B-cell and Follicular Lymphoma.

B cell is more common that T cell lymphoma. In the United States, it accounts for 85% of Non HL cases.

Treatment for cancers originating in B cells differs from T cell lymphomas. That's why it is important to find out what type of immune cell turns abnormal. And B cell lymphoma prognosis also depends on the type.

Types of B cell lymphomas

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)

DLBCL is one of the 2 most common types of Non Hodgkins. In fact, about 1 in 3 cases is DLBCL.

Characteristics of DLBCL are...

• Large cancerous cells when viewed under the microscope

• Fast growing

• Affects any age group but occurs mostly in older people

• Usually starts in either internal lymph nodes (chest or abdomen) or lymph nodes you can feel (neck or armpit)

• Responds well to chemotherapy

• Prognosis: 50% of patients are cured with chemo drugs

This is another of the most common types of B cell lymphomas.

• Cancerous cells grow in nodular or circular pattern in your lymph nodes

• Common among older people (age 60 or above) and rare in children

• Starts in many lymph node sites in the body and in the bone marrow

• Slow-growing but are hard to cure. Often follicular lymphomas are not treated when they are first diagnosed if the patient has no symptoms of the disease

• Can become a fast-growing diffuse B-cell

• Closely related diseases because of involvement of the same type of cell known as small lymphocyte.

• In CLL, the cancerous cell mostly starts in the blood and bone marrow. (See Different Types of Leukemia.) In SLL, it develops in the lymph nodes

• Both CLL and SLL are slow-growing diseases but CLL is slower

• CLL is more common than SLL. (See CLL Leukemia Disease.)

• Treatment is similar but cure is difficult with standard treatments

• Both may become more aggressive over time

Burkitt has 2 varieties: African Burkitt and American Burkitt Lymphomas.

• Medium sized cancerous cells

• Very fast-growing

• Often starts in the jaws or other facial bones for the African variety

• Usually starts in the abdomen, ovaries, testes, or other organs, and can spread to the brain and spinal fluid for the American variety

• Affects more men. In fact, about 90% of patients are male and the average age is about 30

• Fast-growing

• Prognosis: over 50% of the patients can be cured by intensive chemotherapy

• Involves the brain, spinal cord, tissues around the spinal cord and the eye

• Tends to metastasize in the central nervous system

• Primary CNS lymphoma is more common in people with weak immune system problems and those infected with HIV

• Prognosis is fairly poor - only about 30% to 50% of people can survive for at least 5 years with proper treatment

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