Agressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas

Big picture

Aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (aggressive NHLs) are fast-growing lymphoid malignancies that often present with rapidly enlarging lymph nodes, extranodal masses, B symptoms, high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), compression syndromes, and tumor lysis risk.

The most important exam message:

Aggressive lymphoma grows fast
→ can kill quickly if untreated
→ but can often be cured if treated properly.

This is the opposite of many indolent NHLs, where “watch and wait” may be appropriate. In aggressive NHL, once the diagnosis and staging are obtained, treatment is usually urgent and curative-intent.

The hematology textbook emphasizes that aggressive NHLs rapidly increase tumor mass, frequently cause emergencies or compression syndromes such as superior vena cava syndrome, pericardial tamponade, and ileus, but often respond well to adequate curative therapy.

---