Difficult multidisciplinary team decisions occur within follicular lymphoma (FL) due to the heterogeneity that exists within the disease. In this video, Wendy Osborne, MBBS (Hons), MRCP, FRCPath, of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK, overviews some of the challenges we face within FL. Importantly, around a fifth of patients are asymptomatic – and we should avoid overtreating them. For these patients, single agent rituximab may be beneficial, but it is important to evaluate each patient on a case-by-case basis. She also considers different frontline options, and whether maintenance therapy is the correct choice to make; although there is benefit associated with progression-free survival, 10 year follow-up studies show no overall benefit. Ultimately, Dr Osborne believes there are important decisions to make regarding how to intensify treatments for high risk individuals, while minimizing treatment and toxicity for low risk patients. This video was recorded at the British Society for Haematology (BSH) 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, held in Liverpool, UK.
