Definition of T-cell lymphoma

Pancreatic Cancer Slideshow

T-cell lymphoma: A disease in which cells in the lymphoid system called T cells (or T lymphocytes) become malignant. T-cell lymphomas account for a minority (about 15%) of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the US and are more common in Asia.

The T-cell lymphomas are highly diverse and include lymphoblastic lymphoma (mainly in children and adolescents, where they account for about half of pediatric lymphomas); peripheral T-cell lymphoma (a heterogeneous group of generally aggressive diseases); mycosis fungoides (called Sezary syndrome if the malignant T cells circulate in blood); and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), both primary cutaneous and systemic ALCL.

T-cell lymphoma may involve the bone marrow but it usually comprises less than 25% of the marrow. If 25% or more of the marrow is populated by the malignant T cells, it is considered T-cell leukemia.

Common Misspellings: t-cell limpoma, t-cell lypoma, t-cell lymphnoma, t-cell lympoma, t-cell lynphoma