Table 1

Revised clinicopathologic proposal on “in situ” B-cell lymphomas, as acknowledged by the WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (2008)2-4 

Clinical meaningsTreatment option
“In situ” FL   
    Without overt lymphoma Indolent Follow-up 
    With overt lymphoma Synchronous (early infiltration by synchronous FL) Therapy as for overt lymphoma “in situ” site should be considered as involved 
 Metachronous (preceding FL by years or associated with other lymphomas: DLBCL, SMZL, MCL, and cHL) Biopsy is mandatory Therapy as for overt lymphoma Consider site of initial “in situ” lymphoma 
“In situ” MCL   
    Without overt lymphoma Not always indolent Follow-up (closer than in FL) 
    With overt lymphoma Synchronous (with synchronous MCL or FL) Therapy as for overt lymphoma “in situ” site should be considered as involved 
 Metachronous (widespread disease; aggressive behavior) Biopsy is mandatory Therapy as for overt lymphoma Consider site of initial “in situ” lymphoma 
Clinical meaningsTreatment option
“In situ” FL   
    Without overt lymphoma Indolent Follow-up 
    With overt lymphoma Synchronous (early infiltration by synchronous FL) Therapy as for overt lymphoma “in situ” site should be considered as involved 
 Metachronous (preceding FL by years or associated with other lymphomas: DLBCL, SMZL, MCL, and cHL) Biopsy is mandatory Therapy as for overt lymphoma Consider site of initial “in situ” lymphoma 
“In situ” MCL   
    Without overt lymphoma Not always indolent Follow-up (closer than in FL) 
    With overt lymphoma Synchronous (with synchronous MCL or FL) Therapy as for overt lymphoma “in situ” site should be considered as involved 
 Metachronous (widespread disease; aggressive behavior) Biopsy is mandatory Therapy as for overt lymphoma Consider site of initial “in situ” lymphoma 

DLBCL indicates diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; SMZL, splenic marginal zone lymphoma; and cHL, classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

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