Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) can show diffuse, nodular and mantle zone growth patterns. We report on two cases of MCL with an unusual intrafollicular growth pattern and discuss the differential diagnosis. The first case was a small lymph node biopsy from a patient with a history of MCL in remission for 6 years. The lymph node showed a preserved architecture but with cyclin D1-positive cells exclusively confined to follicle centers, thus representing an unusual in situ pattern of recurrent disease. The second case was a lymph node biopsy infiltrated with classical diffuse MCL but with areas of intrafollicular growth pattern. Both cases exhibited the classical immunophenotype of MCL with CD20 positivity and co-expression of CD5, cyclin D1, BCL2, and SOX11. Proliferation rate, as assessed by Mib-1 immunostaining was <10% within the infiltrated follicle centers. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated a break in the CCND1 locus indicative of the t(11;14)(q13;q32), whereas the BCL2 gene locus was intact. Both patients followed a relatively indolent clinical course as compared with classical MCL. It is important to recognize this particular pattern in MCL, since it may occur as minimal lymph node involvement and may also lead to confusion with follicular lymphoma.