BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies of the lymphoid system and represents approximately 80% of all lymphomas. Mortality associated with NHL in Brazil has increased in the last few years, from 2772 cases in 2000 to 3194 in 2004. Aggressive NHL accounts for approximately 60% of all cases and cure can be achieved in more than 70% of cases with rates ranging 50-90% when under immunochemotherapy depending on the clinical stage and international prognostic index (IPI). Currently, only CHOP therapy is available to patients presenting with aggressive NHL in Brazilian Public Healthcare System. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the epidemiological impact of adding rituximabe (R) to CHOP first-line therapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) on the annual number of patients experiencing recurrence and deaths between 2010 and 2020 in Brazil. METHODS: Annual aggressive NHL incidence for 2010-2020 was estimated by applying published age-specific NHL incidence to Brazilian population projections for the mentioned period. Projection were made for aggressive NHL and population above 20 year-old only. Therapy effect for R-CHOP and CHOP was derived from Gao, 2009 and 2-year overall survival and disease control data were adjusted for a one year rate. Considering the subgroups analysis, annual overall survival rate were 54.5% and 45.7% and disease control  rate were 43.7% and 31.1% for R-CHOP and CHOP, respectively. RESULTS: Between 2010-2020 it is estimated that 8886 more patients would be saved if R-CHOP was given (54917 vs. 46031 for CHOP). Regarding disease progression, R-CHOP has the potential to control the disease in 12703 more patients than CHOP (44048 vs. 31345).  CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that R-CHOP has the potential to save about 16% more lives annually when compared to CHOP in the management of aggressive NHL, particularly in Brazilian patients who have late diagnosis which implies a worse prognosis.