Lymphoma is a cancer of lymph cells - a type of cells that are present in the blood and lymph nodes and protect the body from infections. Most lymphomas arise from lymph nodes, though they can arise from practically any organ in the body - including the stomach, brain, testes, skin and bones.

Lymphoma starting from a bone is quite uncommon, though they are known to happen. This condition is different from bone invasion by lymphoma that starts from lymph nodes lying close to the bone, and from bone marrow involvement by any type of lymphoma. In primary bone lymphoma, the disease starts in a bone and is often present only in that bone. Though rare, these lymphomas can be usually cured with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.