When most people read the words "Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma" on their pathology report, they assume the diagnosis is binary — either it qualifies for a Roundup lawsuit or it does not. The reality is more layered. NHL is an umbrella that covers more than 60 distinct subtypes, and the science linking glyphosate to each of them is not identical.
Why The Subtype Matters
The body of epidemiological research connecting glyphosate to lymphoma is strongest for certain B-cell lineages. The 2015 IARC monograph that classified glyphosate as a "probable human carcinogen" identified Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma as a category, but it did not say every NHL subtype is supported equally. Within the federal Roundup MDL (In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741), bellwether selection, case strength, and expert testimony have all turned on subtype.
Knowing which subtype is on your pathology report is the single most useful piece of information you can bring to a first call.
The Subtype Map
Below is a working map of the NHL subtypes we see in intake, organized by how strongly they fit a Roundup claim under current science. None of this is a substitute for case-specific review by an attorney and a medical-legal professional, but it gives you a starting frame.
| Subtype | Lineage | Roundup Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) | B-cell | Strong |
| Follicular Lymphoma | B-cell | Strong |
| Marginal Zone Lymphoma (nodal, splenic, MALT) | B-cell | Strong |
| Mantle Cell Lymphoma | B-cell | Strong |
| Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL) / Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) | B-cell | Strong |
| Burkitt Lymphoma | B-cell | Moderate |
| Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma / Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia | B-cell | Moderate |
| Hairy Cell Leukemia | B-cell | Moderate |
| Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) | T-cell | Moderate |
| Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides, Sézary) | T-cell | Weaker |
| Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) | T-cell | Weaker |
| NK/T-Cell Lymphoma | NK/T-cell | Weaker |
Plain language: Most of the strongest cases involve B-cell lymphomas. T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas are not impossible to litigate, but the underlying science is thinner and the cases are harder to build.
The B-Cell Heavyweights
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
DLBCL is the most common aggressive NHL subtype in adults. It is also the subtype that figured most prominently in early Roundup bellwether cases. Most of the published epidemiological case-control studies on glyphosate include DLBCL specifically in their B-cell lymphoma category. If your pathology report lists DLBCL, the case fits the strongest part of the science.
Follicular Lymphoma
Follicular Lymphoma is the most common indolent (slow-growing) NHL subtype. It often presents at later stages because patients can be asymptomatic for years. The Hardeman bellwether, one of the cases that helped establish Roundup litigation, involved Follicular Lymphoma. The science here is well-established.
Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Marginal Zone Lymphoma includes three subvariants: nodal MZL, splenic MZL, and extranodal MALT lymphoma. All three are B-cell lymphomas that fit the broader B-cell lymphoma category supported by the science. MALT lymphoma in particular has been an underclaimed subtype — many patients with MALT do not realize their diagnosis qualifies.
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Mantle Cell Lymphoma is a less common but aggressive B-cell subtype. It is included in the broader B-cell lymphoma category in most of the relevant epidemiology.
CLL / SLL
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma are the same disease at different anatomic stages — one presents in the blood and bone marrow, the other in lymph nodes. Both are mature B-cell neoplasms and both are part of the broader B-cell lymphoma group supported by the science. CLL/SLL is one of the most common diagnoses we see in older agricultural workers.
The Moderate-Fit Subtypes
Burkitt Lymphoma, Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (including Waldenström's), and Hairy Cell Leukemia are all B-cell cancers and are part of the lymphoid neoplasm category that the science addresses. The case-specific science is thinner than for DLBCL or Follicular, but viable claims can still be built, particularly with strong exposure histories.
T-Cell and NK/T-Cell Subtypes
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary syndrome), Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, and NK/T-Cell Lymphoma are not B-cell cancers. The glyphosate science is much thinner for T-cell and NK lineages than for B-cell. These cases are not categorically excluded, but they are harder to build and we evaluate them carefully on individual facts.
What About Cancers That Are Not NHL At All?
Two diagnoses are often confused with NHL but are categorically different:
- Hodgkin Lymphoma. Not part of the NHL category. The science linking glyphosate to Hodgkin Lymphoma is much weaker and most courts and experts treat it as a separate disease that does not fit a Roundup claim.
- Multiple Myeloma. Not technically NHL, but is a plasma-cell neoplasm in the broader lymphoid family. The science here is real and there is active Roundup MM litigation. See our companion piece on Multiple Myeloma and Roundup.
What If The Pathology Report Is Vague?
Many patients have a pathology report that says "B-cell lymphoma" or "Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma" without specifying the precise subtype. That happens for two reasons: the pathology was reviewed at a smaller community lab, or the patient was diagnosed in an era before today's subtype classifications were standard.
If your case has subtype ambiguity, we typically request the original pathology slides for re-review by a board-certified hematopathologist. A subtype reclassification can sometimes strengthen the fit between the diagnosis and the science.
Exposure Still Matters — Subtype Does Not Stand Alone
Subtype is one of three pillars in a Roundup claim. The other two are exposure (extent and duration of glyphosate use) and timing (when exposure began, when diagnosis occurred, and whether the latency period is consistent with what the science describes). A strong subtype with weak exposure history is not a strong case. A weaker subtype with decades of documented occupational exposure may still be viable. We assess all three together.
Bottom Line
If the pathology report says DLBCL, Follicular, Marginal Zone, Mantle Cell, or CLL/SLL, you are in the strongest part of the Roundup science. If it says Burkitt, Lymphoplasmacytic, Hairy Cell, or PTCL, you are in viable but more case-by-case territory. If it says Cutaneous T-Cell or NK/T-Cell, the case is harder and the analysis is fact-specific. And if the diagnosis is Multiple Myeloma or Hodgkin Lymphoma rather than NHL, the framework is different — see the linked companion pieces.
For broader context on eligibility, see who qualifies for a Roundup lawsuit and whether you can still sue Monsanto in 2026. The first call is free, Herb Borroto, M.D., J.D. reads the pathology personally, and there is no fee unless we recover for you.