Abstract
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) represents the fifth most common cancer in Western countries. It comprises a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors of the lymphoid tissue with distinctive cell lineage, histopathology, genetic profile, clinical features, and possibly distinct causes.
The overall incidence of NHL increased steeply in most developed areas of the world between the 1970s and the mid- 1990s. The increase has been seen for males and females, for all races and age groups of adult peoples.
Recent reports suggest that the incidence have slowed in the late 1990s, nevertheless are still increasing by approximately 1-2% annually. The reasons for these increases are poorly understood.
Population-based 5-year relative survival improved considerably in the beginning of 21st century and exceeded 60 % both in the USA and the Czech Republic. Also the decline in death rates for NHL has been evident in all Western countries during last decade.
For further better analysis of incidence and survival of distinct NHL subtypes we should pay great attention to standardize diagnostic and reporting accuracy and maybe to modification and harmonization of cancer registries structure.