Español
PDFs by language
Our 24/7 cancer helpline provides information and answers for people dealing with cancer. We can connect you with trained cancer information specialists who will answer questions about a cancer diagnosis and provide guidance and a compassionate ear.
Chat live online
Select the Live Chat button at the bottom of the page
Call us at 1-800-227-2345
Available any time of day or night
Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
B-cell lymphomas make up most (about 85%) of the non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in the United States. These types of lymphomas start in early forms of B lymphocytes (B cells). The most common types of B-cell lymphomas are listed below.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of NHL in the United States, accounting for about 1 out of every 3 lymphomas. The lymphoma cells look fairly large when seen with a microscope.
DLBCL can affect people of any age, but it occurs mostly in older people. The average age at the time of diagnosis is mid-60s. It usually starts as a quickly growing mass in a lymph node deep inside the body, such as in the chest or abdomen, or in a lymph node you can feel, such as in the neck or armpit. It can also start in other areas, such as the intestines, bones, or even the brain or spinal cord.
DLBCL tends to be a fast-growing (aggressive) lymphoma, but it often responds well to treatment. Overall, about 3 out of 4 people will have no signs of disease after the initial treatment, and many are cured.
A subtype of DLBCL is primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. This type of lymphoma occurs mostly in young women. It starts in the mediastinum (the area in the middle of the chest behind the breastbone). It can grow quite large and can cause trouble breathing because it often presses on the windpipe (trachea) leading into the lungs. It can also block the superior vena cava (the large vein that returns blood to the heart from the arms and head), which can make the arms and face swell. This is a fast-growing lymphoma, but it usually responds well to treatment.
There are several other subtypes of DLBCL, but these are rare.
About 1 out of 5 lymphomas in the United States is a follicular lymphoma. This is usually a slow-growing (indolent) lymphoma, although some follicular lymphomas can grow quickly.
The average age for people with this lymphoma is about 60. It’s rare in very young people. This lymphoma usually occurs in many lymph node sites in the body. It can also occur in the bone marrow.
Follicular lymphomas often respond well to treatment, but they are hard to cure. These lymphomas may not need to be treated when they are first diagnosed. Often, treatment may be delayed until the lymphoma starts causing problems. Over time, some follicular lymphomas can turn into a fast-growing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
CLL and SLL are closely related diseases. In fact, many doctors consider them different versions of the same disease. The same type of cancer cell (known as a small lymphocyte) is seen in both CLL and SLL. The only difference is where the cancer cells are found. In CLL, most of the cancer cells are in the blood and bone marrow. In SLL, the cancer cells are mainly in the lymph nodes and spleen.
Both CLL and SLL are usually slow-growing (indolent) lymphomas, although CLL, which is much more common, tends to grow more slowly. Treatment is the same for CLL and SLL. These lymphomas are usually not curable, but because they tend to grow slowly, they often don’t need to be treated when they are first found. Treatment can often be very helpful when it’s needed, and many people can live a long time (even decades) with CLL or SLL.
Sometimes, these lymphomas can turn into a more aggressive (fast-growing) type of lymphoma over time.
To learn more, see Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
About 5% of lymphomas are mantle cell lymphomas. MCL is much more common in men than in women, and it most often appears in people older than 60. When MCL is diagnosed, it is usually widespread in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and often the spleen.
MCL can be hard to treat. It tends to grow faster than indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas, but it doesn’t usually respond to treatment as well as aggressive (fast-growing) lymphomas. Newer treatments might offer a better chance for long-term survival for people being diagnosed with MCL.
Marginal zone lymphomas account for about 5% to 10% of lymphomas. They tend to be slow growing (indolent). The cells in these lymphomas look small under the microscope. There are 3 main types of marginal zone lymphomas:
Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, also known as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma: This is the most common type of marginal zone lymphoma. It starts in places other than the lymph nodes (extranodal sites).
There are gastric and non-gastric MALT lymphomas:
The average age of people with MALT lymphoma at the time of diagnosis is about 66. This lymphoma tends to grow slowly and is often curable if the cancer is not advanced.
Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: This is a rare type of lymphoma. It starts and usually stays in the lymph nodes, although lymphoma cells can sometimes be found in the bone marrow.
This lymphoma tends to be slow growing (although not usually as slow as MALT lymphoma), and it’s treated similarly to follicular lymphoma.
Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: This is a rare lymphoma. Often the lymphoma is found mainly in the spleen, blood, and bone marrow.
It can cause tiredness and discomfort due to an enlarged spleen. Because the disease is slow growing, it might not need to be treated unless the symptoms become troublesome. This type of lymphoma has been linked to hepatitis C infection. Treatment for the hepatitis C virus is discussed in detail in Treating B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
This fast-growing lymphoma is named after the doctor who first described this disease in African children and young adults. It makes up only about 1% to 2% of all adult lymphomas, but it’s more common in children. It’s also much more common in males than in females.
The cells in Burkitt lymphoma are medium-sized. A similar kind of lymphoma, Burkitt-like lymphoma, behaves much the same way, but the cells have different chromosome changes.
Different varieties of this lymphoma are seen in different parts of the world:
Burkitt lymphoma grows very quickly, so it needs to be treated right away. More than half of people with Burkitt lymphoma can be cured by intensive chemotherapy.
This slow-growing lymphoma is not common, accounting for only 1% to 2% of lymphomas. The lymphoma cells are small and found mainly in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. This lymphoma is discussed in detail in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.
Despite the name, hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is sometimes considered to be a type of lymphoma. It is rare – about 700 people in the United States are diagnosed with it each year. Men are much more likely to get HCL than women, and the average age at diagnosis is around 50.
The cancer cells are small B lymphocytes with projections coming off them that give them a “hairy” appearance. They are typically found in the bone marrow, spleen, and in the blood.
Hairy cell leukemia is slow-growing, and some people may never need treatment. An enlarging spleen or low blood cell counts (due to cancer cells invading the bone marrow) are the usual reasons to begin treatment. If treatment is needed, it’s usually very effective.
Hairy cell leukemia is also talked about in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
This lymphoma involves the brain or spinal cord (the central nervous system, or CNS). Sometimes the lymphoma is also found in tissues around the spinal cord. Over time, it tends to spread in the central nervous system.
Primary CNS lymphoma is rare overall, but it’s more common in older people and in people with immune system problems, such as those who have had an organ transplant or who have AIDS. Most people develop headaches and confusion. They might also have vision problems; weakness or altered sensation in the face, arms, or legs; and in some cases, seizures.
The outlook for people with primary CNS lymphoma has improved over the years mainly due to better treatments.
This is a rare type of lymphoma that starts in the eyeball and is often seen along with primary CNS lymphoma. Most people with primary intraocular lymphoma are elderly or have immune system problems that may be due to AIDS or anti-rejection drugs after an organ or tissue transplant.
People may notice bulging of the eyeball without pain, vision loss, or blurry vision. Many of the tests done to diagnose ocular melanoma are the same used to diagnose lymphoma of the eye.
The main treatment for lymphoma of the eye is external radiation therapy if the cancer is limited to the eye. Chemotherapy (chemo) or chemotherapy in combination with radiation may be used depending on the type of lymphoma and how far it has spread outside of the eye.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Sukswai, N, Lyapichev, K, Khoury, JD, et al. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma variants: an update. Pathology. 2020;52(1): 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pathol.2019.08.013
Zelenetz, AD, Gordon, LI, Chang, JE, et al. B-cell lymphomas, version 5.2021. Featured updates to the NCCN guidelines. JNCCN, 19(11):1218-1230. https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2021.0054
Zhao XY, Cheng TT, Meng LH, Zhang WF, Chen YX. Clinical features, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of primary intraocular lymphoma. Front in Oncology. 2022;3(12):808511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.808511
Last Revised: February 15, 2024
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.
If this was helpful, donate to help fund patient support services, research, and cancer content updates.