Clinical analysis of 22 cases with primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma (PCNSML). Methods The clinical data of 22 cases of PCNSML were analyzed retrospectively.Results The patients in our study mainly presented with headache (16 cases), vomiting (11 cases), weakness of extremities (5 cases) and numbness (1 case). The tumors were supratentorial in 19cases, infratentorial in 3 cases and multiple in 5 cases. CT scan showed same density or high-density lesions with surrounding mild edema. Brain MRI demonstrated slight-hypointense lesion of 9 cases and isointense lesion of 5 cases on T1-weighted imaging. On the T2-weighted imaging, the lesions were slight-hyperintense in 11 cases and isointense in 3 cases. Enhanced scanning showed that the lesions were contrasted evenly and obviously on CT and MRI. Misdiagnosis was given preoperatively in 17 patients. The pathological examination revealed B cell malignant lymphoma in all cases. In 18 cases of follow-up, 5 patients with multiple lesions who only received stereotactic biopsy all died within 6 months, the mean survival time of 6 patients who were treated with total resection of the tumors and radiotherapy was 27 months, 4 patients treated with partial resection and ?-radiotherapy was 21 months, 4 patients treated with partial resection and radiotherapy was 10 months. The patient who was treated with only total resection of the tumor died in 11 months because of recurrent. Two patients with only partial resection died in 5 and 8 months, respectively.Conclusions There are no specific clinical manifestations of PCNSML and the disease is often misdiagnosed preoperatively. Although certain characteristic performance may be found on CT and MRI scans, the final diagnosis of this disease depends on pathological examination. Comprehensive treatments may prolong the survival time of the patients.