By Liji Thomas, MD
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent tumor of the lymphatic system which may often remain inactive for years before undergoing transformation into an aggressive tumor.
After treatment, a high percentage of patients fail to respond, and these tumors are categorized as refractory lymphomas. Some respond with an initial positive change, but then develop signs of recurrent tumor, called relapsed follicular lymphoma.
What causes patients to enter either of these categories is as yet unknown, but older people above the age of 60 years at the age of diagnosis are known to have a much higher risk of relapse and transformation. Other possible factors include advanced stage at