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Review
. 2025 Mar;121(3):331-341.
doi: 10.1007/s12185-024-03781-5. Epub 2024 May 28.

New classifications of B-cell neoplasms: a comparison of 5th WHO and International Consensus classifications

Kennosuke Karube  1   2 , Akira Satou  3 , Seiichi Kato  4
Affiliations
Free article
Review

New classifications of B-cell neoplasms: a comparison of 5th WHO and International Consensus classifications

Kennosuke Karube et al. Int J Hematol. 2025 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a new classification of lymphoid neoplasms, a revision of the previously used Revised 4th Edition of their classification (WHO-4R). However, this means that two classifications are now in simultaneous use: the 5th Edition of the WHO classification (WHO-5) and the International Consensus Classification (ICC). Instead of a comprehensive review of each disease entity, as already described elsewhere, this review focuses on revisions made in both the WHO-5 and ICC from WHO-4R and discrepancies between them regarding B-cell neoplasms. Similarities include cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma, cold agglutinin disease, non-primary effusion lymphoma-type effusion-based lymphoma, and gray zone lymphoma. Differences include plasma cell neoplasms, high-grade B-cell lymphoma (double hit lymphoma), follicular lymphoma, LPD with immune deficiency and dysregulation, extranodal large B-cell lymphoma, transformations of indolent B-cell lymphomas, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified. Understanding the similarities and differences between the two latest classifications will aid daily diagnostic practice and future research on lymphoid neoplasms.

Keywords: Classification; International Consensus Classification; Lymphoid neoplasm; World Health Organization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

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