Norwegian Registry of Lymphoid Malignancies

Summary from the annual report 2025

Lymphoid malignancies accounted for more than six percent of all new cancer cases in 2025, and include Hodgkin lymphoma, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, mature lymphoid leukemias, myeloma, and lymphoblastic lymphomas. The 2025 annual report provides a comprehensive overview of incidence, treatment, patient experiences, and survival. An important backdrop for this year’s report is the planned expansion of the register from 2026 onward, which will include all lymphoid and myeloid malignancies. This year’s report is also the first to include comorbidity data as well as full PROM and PREM analyses.

The overall picture for 2025 shows that the epidemiological situation is relatively stable. The incidence of lymphoid malignancies varies across subgroups but totals around 46 cases per 100,000 person‐years. Comorbidity analyses show, as expected, that younger groups such as patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphomas have low comorbidity burden, while older patients with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, mature lymphoid leukemias, and myeloma often have multiple serious comorbid conditions that may influence both treatment options and prognosis. 

Patient satisfaction with hospital services is consistently very high across all diagnostic groups, often above 85 percent, while collaboration between hospitals and general practitioners is considered more variable. Around four in ten patients report that the collaboration works well, a similar proportion feel it works only partially, and a relatively large minority consider it inadequate. Many patients also highlight the need for better information about potential late effects.

Survival analyses show overall positive results. Hodgkin lymphoma has a five‐year relative survival rate of nearly 89 percent, well above the quality target, though there are clear age differences: younger patients have excellent long‐term outcomes, whereas survival is significantly lower in older groups. Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma represents a heterogeneous category, but overall five‐year relative survival is just over 79 percent. Indolent lymphomas continue to show a favorable long‐term prognosis, with ten‐year survival ranging from 80 to 90 percent depending on the health trust.

For mature lymphoid leukemias, predominantly chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the outlook is also positive. Ten‐year relative survival exceeds 85 percent, and only a small proportion of patients receive treatment at diagnosis, in line with current guidelines. Myeloma continues to show improving outcomes, with a five‐year relative survival of around 70 percent. Most notably, median survival has increased substantially over the past 15–20 years, largely due to intensified treatment regimens, broader use of high‐dose therapy with autologous stem cell support, and the introduction of new combination therapies. 

Treatment patterns are also evolving. In Hodgkin lymphoma, the use of escalated BEACOPP/BEACOPDac has increased in recent years, while radiotherapy is used less frequently, a development driven by PET‐adapted treatment strategies and a desire to reduce late effects. In non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, R‐CHOP remains the dominant regimen for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, though regional variation persists. Among indolent lymphomas, “watch and wait” is still common, and in myeloma, maintenance therapy after stem cell transplantation has become far more widespread in recent years.

The overall data quality in the register is high. The core registry has a completeness of 99 percent, and most clinical variables are well covered. PROM response rates are moderate but sufficient to produce meaningful results. This year’s quality improvement initiatives include follow‐up of early mortality in selected health trusts, correction of FISH registrations, increased awareness of appropriate treatment initiation in CLL, and continued efforts to improve consultation routines with university hospitals. 

The report concludes that cancer care for lymphoid malignancies in Norway in 2025 is characterized by high survival, strong patient satisfaction, and increasingly robust data. At the same time, it identifies areas for improvement, particularly related to coordination between levels of care, communication about late effects, expanded use of genetic analyses, and increasing participation in clinical trials. The planned expansion of the register, including the incorporation of all lymphoid and myeloid malignancies, is expected to further strengthen future analyses and support more targeted quality improvement efforts.