What is indolent mantle cell lymphoma?
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is typically an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects B cells in the mantle zone of lymph nodes. However, a small subset of people may be diagnosed with an indolent (slow-growing) form of the disease.
MCL makes up about 5-7% of all Show Full Answer
What is indolent mantle cell lymphoma?
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is typically an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects B cells in the mantle zone of lymph nodes. However, a small subset of people may be diagnosed with an indolent (slow-growing) form of the disease.
MCL makes up about 5-7% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases and is considered rare, affecting approximately 1 in 200,000 people each year.
The disease develops when genetic changes cause B cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. One common change is a gene translocation that affects how B cells grow. While MCL typically grows slowly at first within lymph nodes, it can eventually multiply rapidly and spread to other parts of the body, including:
- Liver
- Bone marrow
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Rarely, the brain and lungs
MCL falls between indolent and aggressive lymphomas in terms of growth rate - it grows faster than most indolent lymphomas but slower than most aggressive types. Because MCL is often diagnosed at later stages when it has already spread, early detection can be challenging. Many people don't experience symptoms until the disease has progressed, and healthcare providers may not immediately recognize the signs due to its rarity.
Treatment typically involves a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs (chemoimmunotherapy) to control lymphoma cell growth. Some people may also receive a bone marrow transplant to replenish healthy blood cells.
February 24
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