Table 3. Treatment Options for Childhood Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Treatment GroupTreatment Options
Mature B-cell NHL:
Burkitt and Burkitt-like lymphoma/leukemiaNewly diagnosedSurgery (for stage I and II only)
Chemotherapy
RecurrentChemotherapy with or without rituximab
Allogeneic or autologous SCT
Diffuse large B-cell lymphomaNewly diagnosedSurgery (for stage I and II only)
Chemotherapy
RecurrentChemotherapy with or without rituximab
Allogeneic or autologous SCT
Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomaChemotherapy and rituximab
Lymphoblastic lymphomaNewly diagnosedChemotherapy with or without cranial-spinal radiation therapy
RecurrentChemotherapy
Allogeneic SCT
Anaplastic large cell lymphomaNewly diagnosedSurgery followed by chemotherapy (for stage I)
Chemotherapy
RecurrentChemotherapy
Allogeneic or autologous SCT
Lymphoproliferative disease associated with immunodeficiency in children:
Lymphoproliferative disease associated with primary immunodeficiencyChemotherapy
Allogeneic SCT
HIV-associated NHLChemotherapy
PTLDSurgery and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, if possible
Rituximab alone
Standard or slightly modified chemotherapy with or without rituximab (for B-cell PTLD)
Low-dose chemotherapy with or without rituximab (for EBV-positive B-cell PTLD)
Rare NHL occurring in children:
Pediatric follicular lymphomaSurgery only
Chemotherapy
MALT lymphomaSurgery only
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Primary CNS lymphomaChemotherapy
Peripheral T-cell lymphomaChemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Allogeneic or autologous SCT
Cutaneous T-cell lymphomaNo standard treatments have been established

CNS = central nervous system; EBV = Epstein-Barr virus; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; MALT = mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; PTLD = posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease; SCT = stem cell transplantation.

From: Childhood Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)

Cover of PDQ Cancer Information Summaries
PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet].
Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002-.

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