title: Follicular T-cell lymphoma: a member of an emerging family of follicular helper T-cell derived T-cell lymphomas.
abstract: Unlike B-cell lymphomas, where knowledge of normal B-cell origin and differentiation has greatly contributed to their classification, the current classification of peripheral T-cell lymphomas is limited by a lack of understanding of their cellular origin. In the current World Health Organization classification of lymphomas, follicular T-cell lymphoma was formally recognized as a morphologic variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified. There is growing evidence, however, that follicular T-cell lymphoma may be a unique clinicopathologic entity based on its morphologic features and derivation from follicular helper T-cells. In addition, there are abundant recent data supporting the concept that follicular helper T-cells can give rise to other types of T-cell lymphoma, including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoma, and a subset of neoplasms, in addition to follicular T-cell lymphoma, currently classified as peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified. In this review, we focus primarily on the clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features of follicular T-cell lymphoma and discuss its potential relationship with other types of T-cell lymphoma thought to be derived from follicular helper T-cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Box 72, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Shimin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ken H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Sergej N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Konoplev
authors.forename: L Jeffrey
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D059786:Abnormal Karyotype; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm