These are actually two different types of lymphoma, though both are B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Here's a quick breakdown of how they differ:
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
- Fast-growing and aggressive
- Most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Often highly treatable, with many people achieving complete Show Full Answer
These are actually two different types of lymphoma, though both are B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Here's a quick breakdown of how they differ:
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
- Fast-growing and aggressive
- Most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Often highly treatable, with many people achieving complete remission
- Cells appear spread out (diffuse) under a microscope
Follicular Lymphoma
- Slow-growing and indolent (low-grade)
- Named for the round clusters (follicles) the cells grow in
- Not currently considered curable with standard therapy, but often managed as a chronic condition
- Generally less aggressive There is one important connection between the two — follicular lymphoma can sometimes transform into DLBCL over time. This is called transformed follicular lymphoma, and it's something doctors monitor for in longer-term cases.
If there's any uncertainty about a diagnosis, getting a second opinion is always a reasonable step, as these lymphomas can sometimes be tricky to distinguish.
July 23
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