T-cell lymphoma
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Overview
T-cell lymphoma describes several different types of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting T cells or Natural killer cells (NK-cells), also knownas a NK/T-cell lymphoma. Any organ that has lymphatic tissue may develop a lymphoma, including the spleen, thymus, adenoids, tonsils, digestive tract and bone marrow. Characteristically, they may present as fast (aggressive) or slow (indolent) growing lymphomas.
Lymphomas are named after the precursor cell from which it developed. A peripheral T-cell lymphomas include lymphomas which arise from mature T-cells (after maturation in the thymus), in contrast with immature T-cell lymphomas, the lymphoblastic lymphoma.
Classification
T-cell lymphomas may be classified according to updated WHO classification into 2 subtypes: