Aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are a group of malignancies with rapid symptom onset and a short natural history. Presenting features vary depending on the site(s) affected. Investigations are aimed at making an accurate diagnosis and classification, assessing stage and prognostic features, and assessing the patient’s ability to tolerate aggressive therapy. The WHO classification has been widely adopted in routine practice, and has been recently updated. Diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma and T-cell lymphomas will be discussed in this contribution, with brief mention of other entities. The mainstay of treatment is multi-agent chemotherapy. The advent of monoclonal antibody therapy has improved outcomes in many B-cell malignancies. However, some aggressive lymphomas, including many T-cell disorders, still carry a poor prognosis, and new treatment strategies are needed.