The clinical course of follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma serves as a paradigm for the other subtypes of non-Hodgkinʹs lymphoma previously collectively known as ‘indolent’ or ‘low-grade’. As such, its clinical course (that is, the natural history as influenced by conventional therapy) can act as a useful baseline against which the efficacy of new approaches may be assessed. The illness is characterised by repeated responsiveness to treatment but typically this is transient and incomplete. Death occurs at a median of 9–10 years after diagnosis, generally as a consequence of resistant disease, transformation to diffuse large B cell pathology or as a result of side effects of therapy. It has been demonstrated that there is no survival advantage associated with starting treatment prior to there being a clinical need to do so. It is hoped that the advent of new treatment modalities will alter the inexorable pattern of recurrence.