A Canadian evidence-based guideline for the first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma: joint consensus of the Lymphoma Canada Scientific Advisory Board.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in North America. Because of the heterogeneity of the disease, treatment options vary from observation to aggressive therapies or stem cell transplantation, or both. Although advances in treatment have improved outcomes, the disease remains largely incurable. In Canada, no unified national guideline exists for the front-line treatment of FL; provincial guidelines vary and are largely based on funding. There is therefore a need for evidence-based national treatment guidelines that are supported by Canadian hematologists to ensure that patients with FL have equitable access to the best available care. A group of experts from across Canada developed a national evidence-based treatment guideline to provide health care professionals with clear guidance on the first-line management of FL. Results of a systematic review of the literature are presented with consensus recommendations based on available evidence.