B-cell lymphoma
Meaning of B-cell lymphoma: B-cell lymphoma is a cancer of infection-fighting B cells that ranges from slow-growing to fast-growing, with outlook depending on the specific subtype.
Definition of B-cell lymphoma
B-cell lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in B cells, a category of white blood cell that normally helps the immune system fight infection by producing antibodies. The cancer arises when B cells grow and divide abnormally, most often within lymph nodes, though it can also involve other tissues.
B-cell lymphomas are generally classified as a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and vary widely in behavior. Some are described as indolent, meaning they tend to grow and progress slowly, while others are aggressive, growing and spreading more quickly. This distinction affects how urgently treatment is typically pursued.
There are many recognized subtypes of B-cell lymphoma, distinguished by specific features of the abnormal cells and their pattern of growth, and the expected course of the disease depends heavily on which subtype and stage is involved rather than following a single predictable pattern.
Used in a sentence
Biopsy of the enlarged lymph node confirmed a diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma.
Good to know
An indolent B-cell lymphoma and an aggressive B-cell lymphoma can require very different approaches despite both arising from the same cell type, since the pace of the disease itself is central to how each is evaluated.
Word origin
Where “B-cell lymphoma” comes from
Formed from Latin lympha, meaning clear water, and the Greek suffix -oma, meaning tumor.