Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes is a rare type of

lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In current usage the name usually refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlar ...

that involves mature

B cells B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or ...

. Older names include ''lymphoma simulating hairy cell leukemia'' and ''lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes''. The characteristic villous lymphocytes will appear in a blood smear of the peripheral blood of patients with this type of lymphoma. These lymphocytes will have an oval nucleus with the “cobblestone” pattern of nuclear chromatin typical of more mature lymphoid cells. The cytoplasmic projections, or villi, are found in a polar distribution. Whether this condition is identical to

splenic marginal zone lymphoma Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a type of cancer (specifically a lymphoma) made up of B-cells that replace the normal architecture of the white pulp of the spleen. The neoplastic cells are both small lymphocytes and larger, transformed l ...

, or only highly similar, is a matter of debate.

References

Rare cancers Lymphoma {{oncology-stub