Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma

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Survival rates

Survival rates describe how many people with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma are alive after a certain amount of time, often five years after diagnosis.

Primary CNS lymphoma survival rates vary by age. Younger people tend to have higher survival rates than adults. The five-year survival rates by age are:

  • Ages 0 to 14: 86%.
  • Ages 15 to 39: 61%.
  • Age 40 and older: 38%.

People with primary CNS lymphoma tend to have better outcomes than do those with secondary CNS lymphoma. This is because secondary CNS lymphoma usually develops after lymphoma has already affected other parts of the body.

CNS lymphoma may return after treatment. When relapse happens, it often occurs within the first few years after diagnosis. Additional treatments may help control the disease if a relapse occurs.

Treatments for CNS lymphoma have gotten better in recent years. Many people do well with treatment, and survival rates have improved as new treatments are developed.

What affects prognosis

A cancer prognosis helps predict how the cancer may respond to treatment and what to expect. Many factors affect the outlook for CNS lymphoma.

Your prognosis may depend on:

  • Your age.
  • Your overall health.
  • Whether the lymphoma is primary or secondary.
  • How much of the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid or eyes are affected.
  • How well the lymphoma responds to treatment.
  • Whether the lymphoma comes back after treatment.
  • Whether you have HIV or other conditions that affect your immune system.

For some people, CNS lymphoma may go into long-term remission after treatment. For other people, it can come back and may need more treatment.

If you have questions about prognosis or survival rates, talk with your healthcare team. Your care team can help you understand what these numbers may mean for you.

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Diagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departments
April 01, 2026
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