From the Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Author's disclosure of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.
Address reprint requests to Mihaela Onciu, MD, Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105; e-mail: Mihaela.Onciu{at}StJude.org
Overview: Pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas pose several types of challenges to the diagnosing pathologist and treating physician. Two rare types of low-grade B-cell lymphoma — follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma — show morphologic and immunophenotypic, as well as clinical, features unique to the pediatric age group. Additional difficulties relate to the occurrence of benign clonal B-cell proliferations, most commonly in children, that may mimic these two types of lymphoma at the morphologic and immunophenotypic levels. Other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, most often peripheral T-cell lymphomas, have features common to those seen in adults. Their rarity in children represents mainly a therapeutic challenge. Lastly, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas occurring in children have distinct biologic features from those presenting in adults, raising the possibility of alternative therapeutic approaches.
