Epidemiology

In the UK, approximately 13,600 new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) occur each year (2017-2019 data).[16]

NHL accounts for approximately 4% of all new cancer cases in the US.[17] It is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer.[17]​​​ In 2025, it is estimated that there will be approximately 80,350 new cases of NHL in the US, and 19,390 NHL-related deaths.[17]

NHL incidence increases with age; median age at diagnosis in the US is 68 years.[17] 

In the US, NHL incidence is higher among men than women (22.4 vs. 15.7 new cases per 100,000, respectively [2018-2022 data]), and higher among non-Hispanic white people than other races/ethnicities.[17]

B-cell lymphomas predominate in western countries; T-cell/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are more common in people of Asian ancestry.[18][19]

Incidence of NHL subtypes

The following incidence rates (per 100,000 people) have been reported in the US (2011-2012):[20]

  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): 6.9

  • Follicular lymphoma: 3.4

  • Marginal zone lymphoma: 1.8

  • Peripheral T-cell/NK-cell lymphoma: 1.0

  • Mantle cell lymphoma: 0.8

  • Burkitt's lymphoma: 0.4

  • Primary central nervous system lymphoma: 0.3

  • Primary effusion lymphoma: <0.1

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)

This is a rare NHL subtype, but cases are increasing.[21][22][23]

As of June 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration identified 1380 cases of BIA-ALCL worldwide (mostly in association with textured implants) with 64 related deaths.[22]

As of May 2025, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recognises approximately 458 suspected or confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL in the US, and 1618 cases worldwide.[23]

One prospective cohort study carried out at a single US site reported BIA-ALCL incidence rate of 1 per 355 women with textured implants.[24]

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