What is the primary management for follicular lymphoma?

Follicular lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the proliferation of B cells. The primary management approach for follicular lymphoma often involves biological treatments, particularly the use of monoclonal antibodies like rituximab. Rituximab targets the CD20 surface antigen on B cells, leading to cell destruction and helping to control the disease.

Biological treatments represent a targeted approach that can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, but they specifically offer a way to manage the disease more effectively while minimizing some of the systemic side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. This is particularly important in follicular lymphoma, where many patients may have an indolent or slow-growing form of the disease, allowing for a management strategy that focuses on maintaining the patient's quality of life.

In contrast to biological treatments, radiation therapy is typically reserved for localized disease or for palliative treatment, and surgical resection is not a primary intervention for follicular lymphoma due to its often widespread nature. Chemotherapy may be used in certain cases, especially when aggressive disease features arise, but it is not the most definitive or primary management strategy for the initial treatment of follicular lymphoma. The emphasis on biological treatments like rituximab reflects a shift towards more targeted