A large-scale national study of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in England has revealed stark differences in incidence and survival based on geography, age, and deprivation, according to results presented in an abstract at the 2025 International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML).
The analysis, conducted as part of the UNCOVER programme using data from the NHS National Cancer Registration Dataset, identified 1,534 unselected PCNSL cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2021. The median age at diagnosis was 67, with a majority of patients being male (55%) and white (86%).
The age-standardised incidence rate was 4.4 cases per million per year, with notable regional variation. The East Midlands reported the highest incidence, while the East of England had the lowest. Incidence increased significantly with age, with those aged 66–75 over 60 times more likely to be diagnosed than patients aged 18–35.
Survival outcomes remain poor. The median overall survival was 11 months, with only 48% of patients alive at one year and 35% at three years. Early mortality was high, with 7.6% dying within 30 days of diagnosis. Factors independently linked to poorer survival included age over 75, comorbidity, and socioeconomic deprivation.
This national analysis provides a contemporary overview of PCNSL in England and highlights regional and socioeconomic disparities that warrant further investigation into diagnostic pathways and treatment access.
Reference
Karpha I et al. Incidence and survival of primary CNS lymphoma: An England-wide cohort study from the UNCOVER Study Group. Abstract 331. ICML; 13-17 June; Lugano, Switzerland.
