What is small B-cell lymphoma?
Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a slow-growing type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It develops when B cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections, become cancerous and form solid tumors in the lymphatic system, particularly in the lymph nodes and spleen.
SLL is closely Show Full Answer
What is small B-cell lymphoma?
Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a slow-growing type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It develops when B cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections, become cancerous and form solid tumors in the lymphatic system, particularly in the lymph nodes and spleen.
SLL is closely related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) - they're actually the same disease with different presentations. The key difference is where the cancer cells are found:
- SLL: Cancer cells form tumors in the lymph nodes and spleen
- CLL: Cancer cells are primarily in the blood and bone marrow
Because they're treated the same way, doctors often refer to them together as CLL/SLL.
SLL tends to develop in older adults and represents about 6 percent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Since it's an indolent (slow-growing) cancer, it may not cause many symptoms initially and is often managed with active surveillance (watch-and-wait approach) before treatment becomes necessary.
February 25
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