CT manifestations of brain lymphoma

ABSTRACT

During the period from January 1993 to January 1994, the CT findings of 16 patients with histologically proven diffuse histiocytic lymphoma of the brain were reviewed at radiodiagnosis department, Ain-Shams University Hospitals. Their age ranged from 7 to 63 years, 11 cases were males and 5 were females. Primary disease was proved in 4 cases, while secondary disease was found in 12 cases. Both primary and secondary diseases exhibited the characteristic CT appearance consisting of a large, solid homogenously enhanced mass with varying amounts of edema and very minimal or even no mass effect. Peripheral secondary lymphomas outside the brain stem and basal ganglia usually contained areas of low attenuation consistent with necrosis. Multifocal lesions were found to occur more likely in secondary than in primary lymphomas