Clinical study of a rare case of primary central nervous system natural killer/T cell meningeal lymphoma / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical features and diagnostic method of primary natural killer( NK)/T cell meningeal lymphoma. Methods An unusual case of a 19-year-old male with primary NK/T cell meningeal lymphoma was reported. His clinical presentation and laboratory findings were discussed. The related literatures have been reviewed. Results The patient presented with diplopia,headache, vomiting and facial drooping at the onset, followed by progressive pain and weakness of the four limbs. Cerebrospinal fluid showed significant increase in pressure, leukocytes number, levels of protein,normal glucose and adenosine deaminase, negative tuberculosis antibody and sterile staining. In cerebrospinal fluid cytological analysis, May-Grunwald-Gimsa staining showed large number of atypical lymphocytes with irregular nucleus and nuclear fission, Ki-67 immunostaining showed extensive proliferative activity of the lymphoid cells. Flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid indicated 97. 98 percent of cells expressed surface CD3, CD7, CD56, CD2, CD5, and partially expressed CD8. This was a rare immunophenotype for NK/T-cell. Cranial MRI with gadolinium showed thickening of the trigeminal nerve with slight enhancement and diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement. CT of the chest and abdomen and bone marrow biopsies were negative. He was diagnosed as primary NK/T cell meningeal lymphoma based on the clinical features and related examination. Conclusions Primary NK/T cell meningeal lymphoma is a rare type of primary central nervous lymphomas which has special immunophenotype. The clinical features include progressive raised intra-cranial pressure, multiple cranial and spinal nerve involvements. Cerebrospinal fluid cytological analysis and flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis are key work-up for diagnosis. It has poor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.