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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Year Rate of New Cases — SEER 8 Rate of New Cases — SEER 12 Death Rate — SEER 8 Incidence-Based Mortality 5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 3.13 3.13 - - - - 36.05% 41.46%
1976 2.96 2.95 - - - - 41.13% 41.57%
1977 2.75 2.78 - - - - 38.70% 41.67%
1978 2.91 2.96 - - - - 39.21% 41.78%
1979 3.22 3.15 - - - - 38.35% 41.88%
1980 3.28 3.35 - - - - 40.64% 41.99%
1981 3.56 3.56 - - - - 42.26% 42.09%
1982 3.85 3.79 - - - - 38.88% 42.20%
1983 3.82 4.03 - - - - 46.17% 42.30%
1984 4.43 4.29 - - - - 41.65% 42.41%
1985 4.53 4.56 - - - - 46.89% 42.51%
1986 5.07 4.85 - - - - 40.53% 42.62%
1987 5.26 5.16 - - - - 45.53% 42.72%
1988 5.42 5.49 - - - - 43.84% 42.82%
1989 5.70 5.84 - - - - 40.04% 42.93%
1990 6.26 6.22 - - - - 40.57% 43.03%
1991 6.24 6.21 - - - - 43.40% 43.14%
1992 6.15 6.20 6.08 6.06 2.80 2.75 40.86% 43.24%
1993 6.31 6.19 6.15 6.06 2.75 2.76 42.40% 43.35%
1994 6.16 6.18 6.04 6.05 2.69 2.77 44.62% 43.45%
1995 6.43 6.17 6.23 6.05 2.83 2.78 42.22% 43.56%
1996 5.93 6.16 5.83 6.04 2.76 2.79 46.27% 46.28%
1997 6.11 6.15 6.15 6.04 2.78 2.80 48.60% 48.95%
1998 6.09 6.14 5.96 6.03 2.94 2.81 51.22% 51.57%
1999 5.91 6.13 5.88 6.03 2.41 2.70 52.69% 54.13%
2000 5.84 6.12 5.77 6.02 2.63 2.59 55.53% 56.60%
2001 6.33 6.11 6.16 6.02 2.70 2.49 57.88% 59.00%
2002 5.98 6.10 5.94 6.01 2.32 2.39 64.56% 61.32%
2003 6.24 6.09 6.08 6.01 2.30 2.29 61.59% 61.77%
2004 6.24 6.08 6.20 6.00 2.30 2.20 61.55% 62.21%
2005 6.01 6.03 5.97 5.97 2.00 2.12 65.25% 62.65%
2006 5.88 5.98 5.89 5.93 2.15 2.08 62.74% 63.09%
2007 6.05 5.93 5.99 5.89 2.09 2.04 62.99% 63.52%
2008 5.96 5.88 5.84 5.86 1.92 2.01 63.29% 63.95%
2009 5.89 5.84 5.91 5.82 1.86 1.97 66.27% 64.37%
2010 5.83 5.79 5.77 5.78 1.95 1.93 65.78% 64.80%
2011 5.56 5.74 5.50 5.75 1.91 1.90 66.15% 65.21%
2012 5.82 5.69 5.77 5.71 1.89 1.87 67.84% 65.63%
2013 5.44 5.65 5.61 5.68 1.72 1.83 67.88% 66.04%
2014 5.59 5.60 5.60 5.64 1.85 1.80 66.45% 66.45%
2015 5.57 5.56 5.63 5.61 1.88 1.77 68.53% 66.85%
2016 5.44 5.51 5.60 5.57 1.78 1.74 67.30% 67.25%
2017 5.48 5.47 5.51 5.54 1.66 1.71 - 67.65%
2018 5.55 5.42 5.57 5.50 1.70 1.68 - 68.04%
2019 5.19 5.38 5.38 5.47 1.60 1.65 - 68.43%
2020 5.01 5.33 5.15 5.43 1.64 1.62 - 68.82%
2021 5.44 5.29 5.50 5.40 1.56 1.59 - 69.20%

New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from SEER 8 Incidence-Based Mortality.
All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted.
Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.
The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data

New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.

5-Year
Relative Survival

64.7% 2014–2020

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 5.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 1.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and deaths.

Additional Information

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma?

Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

64.7%

5-Year
Relative Survival

64.7%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

5-Year Relative Survival by Sex, Age, and Race

Percent

Both Sexes 64.687782987
Males 64.334888283
Females 65.130122443
<55 80.071683901
55–64 70.092734849
65+ 55.331671965
White 64.935400087
Black 61.666497992
Other 65.248886674

SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020

Additional Information

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. The earlier diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 20.1% are diagnosed at stage I. The 5-year relative survival for stage I diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is 79.2%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Stage I
Confined to Single Region		 20% 79.2%
Stage II
Involving Mulitple Regions		 19% 75.5%
Stage III
Spread to Both Sides of Diaphragm		 17% 67.4%
Stage IV
Diffuse or Disseminated Involvement		 38% 55.2%
Unknown
Unstaged		 6% 55.9%

SEER 17 2014–2020, All Races, Both Sexes by Ann Arbor Stage.
Statistics by stage only include cases coded as Lymhpoma or Lymphoma-CLL/SLL in EOD 2018 schema definitions.

Additional Information

New Cases

Who Gets This Cancer?

The rate of new cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 5.5 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
Males
All Races 6.6
Hispanic 7.2
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 5.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 6.3
Non-Hispanic Black 4.9
Non-Hispanic White 6.7
Females
All Races 4.6
Hispanic 5.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 3.9
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 4.6
Non-Hispanic Black 3.4
Non-Hispanic White 4.5

SEER 22 2017–2021, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 1.2%
20–34 5.3%
35–44 6.0%
45–54 11.0%
55–64 20.9%
65–74 26.9%
75–84 20.5%
>84 8.2%

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65–74.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

67

SEER 22 2017–2021, All Races, Both Sexes

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases have been falling on average 0.8% each year over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been stable over 2012–2021. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival

Interactive Statistics with SEER*Explorer

With SEER*Explorer, you can...
  • Create custom graphs and tables
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SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.

Explore Additional Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Statistics

More About This Cancer

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Figure: Lymph Nodes Above and Below the Diaphragm

Figure: This picture shows lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm. It also shows the lymph vessels, tonsils, thymus, and spleen.

Lymphoma is cancer that begins in cells of the lymph system. The lymph system is part of the immune system, which helps the body fight infection and disease. Because lymph tissue is found all through the body, lymphoma can begin almost anywhere.

The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). These can occur in both children and adults.

There are many different types of NHL that form from different types of white blood cells (B-cells, T-cells, NK cells). Most types of NHL form from B-cells. NHL may be indolent (slow-growing) or aggressive (fast-growing). The most common types of NHL in adults are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is usually aggressive, and follicular lymphoma, which is usually indolent.

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/dlbcl.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2024 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.