Evaluating transformed follicular NHL (fNHL)

• fNHL generally has a long relapsing/remitting disease course, but in some cases can behave aggressively⁵²
• A lymph node or bone marrow biopsy is required to analyze the histology and diagnose transformation to large cell lymphoma.^53,54 Morphologic transformation of fNHL into aggressive disease occurs in approximately 25% to 30% of patients during the clinical course of disease⁵⁵
  • In patients with fNHL, the probability of transformation is 22% at 5 years and 31% at 10 years, with a trend toward plateau at 6 years⁵⁶
• Transformation of follicular lymphoma to an aggressive lymphoma subtype is associated with a fast-moving progressive clinical course, refractoriness to treatment, and short survival^25,57
  • If transformation is histologically confirmed, the patient is usually treated the same as DLBCL⁵⁸
  • The median overall survival for these patients is typically less than a year⁵⁶

View References for this site section