Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system

Brain radiotherapy in patients treated for a newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma: professional practice evaluation in 19 French centers

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was a multicentric evaluation of professional practices, analyzing the irradiation technique itself and its impact on survival and recurrence sites, in primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the technical and clinical records of 79 PCNSL patients included in the database of the national expert network for oculocerebral lymphoma ('LOC') who were treated with brain radiotherapy as first-line treatment for newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma between 2011 and 2018.

RESULTS

The number of patients treated with brain radiotherapy gradually decreased over time. The heterogeneity of radiotherapy prescriptions was significant, and 55% of them did not comply with published recommendations in terms of irradiation dose and/or volume. The proportion of complete responders to induction chemotherapy treated with reduced-dose radiotherapy increased over time. Partial brain radiotherapy was associated with significantly lower overall survival in univariate analysis. In partial responders to induction chemotherapy, increasing the total dose to the brain >30 Gy and adding a boost to the WBRT induced a trend toward improved progression-free and overall survival. Five recurrences (13%) occurred exclusively in the eyes, all in patients whose eyes had been excluded from the irradiation target volume and including 2 patients without ocular involvement at diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The visibility of recommendations for prescribing brain radiotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma needs to be improved to harmonize practices and improve their quality. We propose an update of the recommendations.

The Role of Radiation Therapy in the Management of Primary Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas of the Central Nervous System: Clinical Study of 10 Cases

A series of 10 patients with a primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the central nervous system were observed and treated by the authors. All were diagnosed after a pathologic examination of the surgical material; the lesions were supratentorial in all cases and unifocal in 9. In every case radiation therapy improved clinical conditions and in most cases even radiologic features of the patients. Four patients were alive and without evidence of disease many months after therapy. Four patients died with a relapse in the central nervous system; 3 of them had disseminated disease at the time of death. Two patients died for an unknown cause. Radiation therapy was performed with 60Co source with 2 opposed portals and the whole brain irradiation technique in all cases but 2. Doses ranged from 35 to 54 Gy. The recent literature on this uncommon disease and the most adequate therapeutic possibilities of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, or both, are discussed.

A Clinicopathological Study of Seven Cases of Primary High-Grade Malignant Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Central Nervous System

Seven cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the central nervous system are described. Six cases were diagnosed after pathologic examination of surgical material; in one case, a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the diagnosis was made at autopsy. The mean age of the patients was 52 years. The lesions were supratentorial in all cases, and unifocal in 6: the autopsy case had multicentric lesions. The cytologic examination of the cerebrospinal fluid was performed in 3 cases and was negative. The most common histologic type was immunoblastic lymphoma. The mean postoperative survival time was 12 months; in 2 cases, surgery combined with radiotherapy prolonged the survival for more than 2 years. Leptomeningeal involvement was considered to indicate a poor prognosis.

Primary Lymphomas of the Brain: A Clinico-Pathologic Review of 37 Cases

The clinico-pathologic data of 37 primary lymphomas of the brain were retrospectively reviewed. The tumors were classified according to the Kiel classification and the Working Formulation System. They represented 1.02% of all primary intracranial tumors of our series. The radiologic prediction appeared to be difficult: the suspicion was maximal when the absence of pathologic vessels at angiography occurred in a meningioma-like lesion at CT. Median survival was 4.53 months in the 16 cases who underwent surgery only versus 25.7 months in the 8 cases operated and irradiated with 40-60 Gy (p < 0.01). The prognosis of lymphomas of the CNS, even if radioresponsive tumors, remains poor. Most patients relapse after treatment, most often locally in the brain, with a variable frequency of spinal or systemic localization.

[Role of radiotherapy in the treatment of NK/T-cell nasal type and primary cerebral lymphomas]

The head and neck are common sites for extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of low-grade lymphomas, with curative or palliative intent. In the case of high-grade lymphomas, its combination with chemotherapy is debated. Its role is however undeniable in two specific entities: NK/T-cell lymphoma NK/T nasal type, and primary central nervous system lymphomas, which are the subject of this review.

Lymphomatosis cerebri as a cause of white matter dementia

Primary central nervous system lymphoma most often presents as a solitary, isolated lesion in immunocompetent patients. Rarely, the disease presents as a diffuse, infiltrating condition without formation of a cohesive mass, a pattern called lymphomatosis cerebri. We present 3 immunocompetent individuals who developed rapidly progressive dementia. Magnetic resonance imaging features mimicked other disorders of white matter and prompted preoperative diagnoses of Binswanger's disease (subcortical ischemic vascular dementia), unknown leukoencephalopathy, viral infection, or infiltrating glioma. Neuropathologic examination at biopsy (Poon T, Matoso I, Tchertkoff V, Weitzner I Jr, Gade M. CT features of primary cerebral lymphoma in AIDS and non-AIDS patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr . 1989;13:6-9) and autopsy (Schwaighofer BW, Hesselink JR, Press GA, Wolf RL, Healy ME, Berthoty DP. Primary intracranial CNS lymphoma: MR manifestations. Am J Neuroradiol . 1993;10:725-9) demonstrated nonnecrotic, diffusely infiltrating, large-cell B-cell lymphoma of white matter, with relative sparing of gray matter, and without significant leptomeningeal involvement or bulky periventricular disease at autopsy. Microglial and astrocytic reactions, but only subtle myelin pallor, were evident as individual tumor cells permeated the entire brain and spinal cord, albeit with considerable variation in cell density. Individual tumor cells could be identified from the optic nerve to spinal cord, documenting the "whole-brain" nature of the disease. CD20 immunostaining was necessary to fully appreciate the extent of individual lymphoma cell percolation through the white matter. The neurobehavioral deficits manifested by these patients demonstrate that lymphomatosis cerebri is an additional neoplastic cause of white matter dementia and can be added to the growing list of disorders responsible for this syndrome.

Neuroradiological findings in primary cerebral lymphomas of non-AIDS patients

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL's) are rare tumours which generally accounted for 1.0-1.5% of all intracranial neoplasms. However, within the last decade the frequency of cerebral lymphomas has dramatically increased. We retrospectively analysed the neuroradiological findings (computed tomography (CT), MRI, angiography) in 37 patients with PCNSL. Thirty patients with the clinically and neuroradiologically suspected diagnosis of cerebral lymphoma underwent CT- or MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy. In seven cases an open surgical intervention was performed. Preoperatively, CT with and without contrast medium was performed in all but two cases. Twenty-eight patients received MRI (axial SE T2 weighted, triplanar SE T1 weighted, triplanar SE T1+Gadolinium). Additionally, in 9 patients cerebral angiography was performed. Typical neuroradiological patterns are: (1) iso- or hyper-density (85.5%) on unenhanced CT scan with marked contrast enhancement (87.7%); (2) infiltration/contact of leptomeningeal and/or ependymal spaces (97.3%); (3) hyperintensity on T2 with moderate oedema (80.3%). Histopathological work-up included conventional and immunohistochemical stains performed on formalin fixed and paraffin embedded bioptical specimen. Despite widely used preoperative dexamethasone treatment, an accurate histopathological diagnosis of PCNSL of B cell type was established in all cases except one. The high percentage of accurate histopathological diagnosis was based on: (1) great mean sample volume per biopsy site; (2) great number of biopsies in patients suspected to have cerebral lymphomas; and (3) MR-guided stereotactic procedures if the lesion was not clearly identifiable on CT scan.

A primary CNS lymphoma in spontaneous remission for 3.5 years after initial detection of the lesions by MRI

We describe the clinicopathological features of a patient with an autopsy-proven primary CNS lymphoma, who had a relatively long remission period after onset. A 61-year-old man experienced disorientation and gait disturbance. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation was performed, based on the diagnosis of hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis, after which his symptoms subsided. Three months later, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high-intensity lesions in the corpus callosum and tectum. However, he remained asymptomatic for the next three and a half years, during which periodic MRI studies constantly detected the lesions. At the age of 65 years, he suffered respiratory and consciousness disturbances, and his general condition gradually deteriorated. MRI studies disclosed that the callosal lesion had spontaneously disappeared, whereas the tectal lesion had developed to become an enhanced linear lesion with a tendency to spread on the dorsal side of the brain stem. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid disclosed a markedly elevated beta2-microglobulin content, and a tentative diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was made. Steroid pulse therapy had little effect, and the patient died four years after presentation. Examination at autopsy disclosed a malignant, large B-cell lymphoma that had diffusely infiltrated the cerebrum and brain stem. In the corpus callosum, a small number of residual lymphoma cells were seen around the vessels. Therefore, the initially detected lesions in the corpus callosum and tectum might have been attributable to lymphoma, and the unusual clinical and radiological features of this case provide further information that might aid in diagnosis and help to ensure prompt treatment.

Leptomeningeal metastases

LM is an increasingly common neurologic complication of cancer with variable clinical manifestations. Although there are no curative treatments, currently available therapies can preserve neurologic function and potentially improve quality of life. Further research into the mechanisms of leptomeningeal metastasis will elucidate molecular and cellular pathways that may allow identification of potential targets to interrupt this process early or to prevent this complication. Animal models are needed to further define the pathophysiology of LM and to provide an experimental system to test novel treatments [242-245]. There is an urgent need to develop new drug-based or radiation-based treatments for patients with LM. Randomized clinical trials are the appropriate study design to determine the efficacy of new treatments for LM. However, surrogate markers for response must be developed to facilitate the identification of effective regimens. Survival is not the optimal end point for such studies as most patients who develop this complication already have advanced, incurable cancer. Prevention of or delay in neurologic progression is one objective that has been utilized in recent randomized trials in patients with LM, and this end point deserves further attention. Although the development of LM represents a poor prognostic marker in patients with cancer it is important for physicians to recognize the symptoms and signs of the disease and establish the diagnosis as early in the disease course as possible. This may provide an opportunity for effective intervention that can improve quality of life, prevent further neurologic deterioration and, for a subset of patients, improve survival.

Primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma: report of 248 cases

OBJECT

The authors present a retrospective analysis of 248 immunocompetent patients with primary intracerebral lymphoma treated at 19 French and Belgian medical centers between January 1980 and December 1995.

METHODS

This study involved 127 female and 121 male patients with a median age of 61 years (range 2-88 years). All tumors available for review were classic diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, for which the phenotype was determined in 220 patients: 212 (96.4%) were B-cell and eight (3.6%) were T-cell type tumors. According to the Revised European-American classification of lymphoid neoplasms, most lesions were diffuse large cell tumors (62%). A total of 196 tumors were reviewed in 127 patients for whom preoperative computerized tomography and magnetic resonance studies were available. There was a single lesion in 66% of the cases, with a supratentorial location in 87%. Tumor location in the basal ganglia, corpus callosum, or fornix, infiltration of the periventricular ependyma, or a mirror pattern, were strongly suggestive of a lesion of lymphomatous origin. The histological diagnosis was obtained after surgical resection in 116 patients, with the remainder undergoing biopsy sampling only. Of the 248 patients studied, 129 (52%) received chemotherapy plus radiation therapy, 60 (24%) received radiation therapy alone, 35 (14%) received chemotherapy alone, and 24 (10%) received no postsurgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Using univariate analysis, the authors determined prognostic factors that were significantly associated with a favorable impact on survival including age younger than 60 years, radiation therapy (without evidence of a dose-response relationship), radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy, and chemotherapy consisting of anthracycline. Partial surgical resection was an unfavorable prognostic factor. Multivariate analysis was used to confirm the independent prognostic value of radiation therapy, age, chemotherapy consisting of anthracyclines or methotrexate, and partial surgical resection. This European survey provides a reasonable basis for the treatment of primary intracerebral lymphoma with the following sequence: stereotactic biopsy sampling, chemotherapy with a methotrexate- and anthracycline-based regimen, followed by cranial irradiation.

Radiotherapy in the treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

The use of radiotherapy alone to treat primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) does not produce the high local control and survival rates that it does in limited extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma outside the central nervous system (CNS). Even with doses of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to 40+20 Gy boost, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) reported a local control rate of 39%. Seventy-nine percent of recurrences were in the 60 Gy region. The median survival was 11.6 months. This response to local radiotherapy is quite different from the response of non-CNS Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma where doses of 30-40 and >40 Gy have a 75-90% local control rate. Neither systemic lymphoma nor PCNSL have a classic radiotherapy dose response. For PCNSL there appears to be a threshold dose that ranges in the literature between 30 and > 50 Gy with a median of 40 Gy. Therefore, when radiotherapy is combined with chemotherapy that crosses the BBB, WBRT and/or boost doses may be able to be decreased, especially in patients achieving a complete response. Promising data from the Centre Leon Berard suggest that this is possible. When such chemotherapy was combined with intrathecal chemotherapy and 20 Gy WBRT, they obtained a 56% actuarial 5 year survival rate. Confirmation of single institution reports of favorable results such as these are needed. Cooperative group and intergroup trials are needed to define optimal therapy.

Second-line treatment for primary central nervous system lymphoma

Failure after first-line treatment was reported in 35-60% of immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). There are currently no reports focusing on salvage therapy. This review analyses prognostic factors and the efficacy of salvage therapy by focusing on data from papers reporting results of first-line treatment in 355 cases. The study group consisted of 173 patients presenting treatment failure. The interval between failure and death (TTD) was compared for age at relapse (< or =60 vs. >60 years), type of failure (relapse vs. progression), time to relapse (< or =12 vs. >12 months) and salvage treatment (yes vs no). Median TTD was similar in younger and older patients (P = 0.09). Relapsed patients had a longer TTD than patients with progressive disease (P = 0.002). Early relapse led to a shorter TTD than late relapse (P = 0.005). Median TTD was 14 months for patients who underwent salvage therapy and 2 months for untreated cases (P<0.00001). A multivariate analysis showed an independent prognostic role for salvage therapy and time to relapse. Age and type of failure had no predictive value. Salvage therapy significantly improves outcome and, possibly, quality of life. As many different treatments were used conclusions cannot be made regarding an optimal treatment schedule.

Characterization of primary intracranial lymphoma by computed tomography: an analysis of 36 cases and a review of the literature with particular reference to calcification haemorrhage and cyst formation

Previous published series describing the appearances of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) state that calcification, haemorrhage and cyst formation are rare, but generally fail to quantify or expand on this statement. We present the pre-treatment computed tomography (CT) findings of 36 patients with biopsy proven PCNSL. In this series, calcification was present in only one very atypical lesion and evidence of haemorrhage was not seen. Small intralesional cysts were present in four of the total of 50 lesions. PCNSL usually appeared as one or more well defined focal lesions, iso- or hyperdense to grey matter, with homogeneous enhancement following IV contrast injection. Less commonly the contrast enhancement was inhomogeneous, only one lesion failed to enhance. Disproportionately little oedema and mass effect compared with lesion size was noted on approximately half the CTs. Lesions usually touch either the ependymal lining of the ventricles or the leptomeningeal surface.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma: age and performance status are more important than treatment modality

PURPOSE

To assess prognostic factors and treatment modalities of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in terms of response rates, patterns of failure and overall survival.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Sixty-two patients presenting with PCNSL between 1982 and 1994 at Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute with no evidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection were included in the study. Their median age was 60 years; World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status was > or = 2 in 85%. All patients were planned to receive whole brain irradiation; 7 also received spinal irradiation. The median planned dose to the target volume was 50.4 Gy. Twenty patients were planned to receive chemotherapy as well. Patients were followed up to June 20, 1995, giving a median follow-up for 14 surviving patients of 5.4 years, range 0.3 to 10.2 years.

RESULTS

The clinical response rate to treatment was 77% [95% confidence interval (CI) 65 to 87%]. The estimated median overall survival was 20.6 months (CI 12.4 to 33.4 months). On univariate analysis male gender, age <60 years, WHO performance status < or = 1, treatment to the target volume > or = 45 Gy, and treatment with additional chemotherapy, were associated with a significantly better overall survival (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis only age and performance status remained significant prognostic variables. Relapse involved the central nervous system or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in all patients with known sites of relapse except three who had ocular relapse only. There was a low incidence of relapse in the initial brain site (23% of known cases) and a high incidence (50%) of CSF/spinal cord relapse. Of 48 deaths, 15 were related to initial or subsequent treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient outcome is strongly influenced by age and performance status. Studies suggesting better survival for patients treated with chemoradiation may reflect patient selection rather than treatment variables. Optimal management remains to be defined. The high CSF/spinal relapse rate deserves particular attention.

Therapeutic management of primary central nervous system lymphoma in immunocompetent patients: results of a critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment for primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) has not been defined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Therapeutic results of 1180 immunocompetent patients (pts) with PCNSL reported in 50 series published in English between 1980 and 1995 were analysed. The impact on survival of age, treatment strategy, radiation field and doses, systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy (CHT) and treatment sequence was evaluated.

RESULTS

Univariate analyses showed a longer survival in pts of < or = 60 years (P < 0.00001): pts treated with > 40 Gy to whole brain (WB) (P = 0.02): pts receiving > 50 Gy to the tumor bed after a WB dose > 40 Gy (P = 0.02): pts submitted to a combined treatment as opposed to CHT alone (P = 0.007) or radiotherapy alone (P < 0.00001): pts receiving CHT followed by radiotherapy rather than in the reverse sequence (P = 0.05); pts treated with high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) (P = 0.04) and pts receiving intrathecal CHT (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis confirmed the independent prognostic value of age, WB dose, HD-MTX and intrathecal CHT.

CONCLUSIONS

Current data confirm the prognostic value of age and appear to support the use of systemic CHT consisting of HD-MTX and intrathecal drug administration followed by 41-50 Gy to WB and > 50 Gy to the tumor bed in the treatment of PCNSL in immunocompetent pts.

Primary cerebral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PCNSL): a review of new trends in management

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare tumor but it is rising in incidence in both AIDS and non AIDS populations. It is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that usually presents itself as a brain tumor, but leptomeninges, eyes and also spinal cord are frequently affected. The management of PCNSL patients has evolved in the last years. The role of surgery has been restricted for diagnosis only because the exeresis of the tumor is ineffective owing to its multifocal and infiltrative nature. Therefore, stereotactic biopsy is the way of choice for documenting the diagnosis. The standard treatment was radiotherapy started after diagnosis and followed by chemotherapy at recurrence. PCNSL is radiosensitive and chemosensitive: about 70% of patients respond to one or other of these treatment modalities but usually PCNSL recurs locally after radiotherapy. More recently the inclusion of high doses ARA-C and Methotrexate delivered prior radiotherapy have shown significant high responses and prolonged survivals.

PROMACE-MOPP and intrathecal chemotherapy for CNS lymphomas

We conducted a Phase II study of PROMACE-MOPP and intrathecal (IT) therapy followed by cranial radiation in 7 patients (4 male, 3 females) with diffuse large cell lymphomas (including one T cell) involving the central nervous system (CNS). Median age was 47 years (range, 25-78). Median performance status was 2 (range, 2 to 3). Two patients had positive CSF cytology. No patients had prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Treatment consisted of PROMACE (cyclophosphamide 650 mg/m2, etoposide 120 mg/m2 days 1 and 8, methotrexate (MTX) 1.5 g/m2 and folinic acid 50 mg/m2 (x 5) day 15, and prednisone 60 mg/m2 days 1-14) x 3-4 courses. MOPP consisted of mustargen 6 mg/m2 and vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 days 1 and 8, procarbazine 100 mg/m2 and prednisone 40 mg/m2 po days 1-14 x 3-4 courses. IT drugs were MTX 20 mg and hydrocortisone 20 mg day 1 and cytosine arabinoside 100 mg day 8, courses 2 to 6, or more frequently if CSF cytology was positive. Following MOPP, 4000 cGy whole brain radiation (XRT) and 2000 cGy boost was given. Response was evaluated before XRT. Two patients declined XRT, 3 declined MOPP and 2 declined IT drugs. Two patients had extracerebral disease and 5 were primary CNS lymphomas. Response after PROMACE was CR: 3 patients; PR 2: stable 1. One patient, with extracerebral disease, experienced PR in the abdomen and CR by CT scan in the brain, but had persistent positive CSF cytology. This patient died from pneumocystis pneumonia 10 weeks after her last CSF cytology and 17 weeks after her diagnosis. After PROMACE +/- MOPP 6 patients experienced CR's. Median (range) survival was 100 (17-334) weeks, with 1 patient lost to follow up at 32 weeks. Toxicity included febrile neutropenia; 6 patients; pneumocystis pneumonia: 1 (fatal); thrombocytopenia; 5; stomatitis: 3; diarrhea; 2; nausea; 3.

CONCLUSION

This regimen is active in the treatment of CNS lymphomas, although toxicity is substantial.

Importance of complete staging in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as a cerebral mass lesion

BACKGROUND

The high incidence of local failure and the lack of evidence of systemic dissemination of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has led some authors to conclude that complete staging with extensive tests is not necessary in patients with a lymphomatous cerebral mass who present with a focal neural syndrome. Moreover, De Angelis emphasizes that there is no report in the literature of systemic lymphoma presenting as a cerebral mass lesion, whereas others conclude that an extensive systemic evaluation is unnecessary or that the staging should be limited to physical examination, routine blood studies, and a chest radiography.

METHODS

In 16 PCNSL patients observed between 1982 and 1992, we found two patients showing systemic involvement of lymphoma after staging workup with chest X-ray, total body computerized tomographic (CT) scan, cerebrospinal fluid cytology examination, and bone marrow biopsy. In one patient, a CT abdominal scan showed retroperitoneal and pelvic lymphonodal involvement, whereas in the second patient, bone marrow biopsy was positive. These systemic onsets were found no later than 2 months after the diagnosis of central nervous system involvement, which is sufficient time to conclude that these locations were present at the diagnosis of the cerebral mass.

RESULTS

In the present study, complete staging demonstrated widespread dissemination (lymph nodes or bone marrow) in two patients with initial neurologic symptoms and a cerebral mass lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, complete staging allowed detection of systemic lymphoma in two patients initially considered to have PCNSL.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma: variety of clinical manifestations and survival

A retrospective analysis of 23 non-immune compromised patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is reported. The patients consist of 14 males and 9 females and the median age is 50 years. Most patients presented with focal neurological deficits or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to mass effects around the periventricular area. However, there were four cases of diffuse type, one case of intramedullary tumour, and four cases with rapid disease progression. All the patients underwent histological confirmation by craniotomy (16 cases) or stereotactic biopsy (7 cases). The radiation therapy started after histological diagnosis in all and 6 cases received additional chemotherapy. The median survival after diagnosis of overall patients was 23 months. Six patients are in disease free status at a mean of 35 months follow-up. The uni- and multi-variative risk analysis revealed five favourable factors on survival: (1) age less than 60 years (0.05 < p < 0.1); (2)pre-operative Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) > or = 70 (p < 0.05); (3) symptom duration over four weeks (p < 0.05); (4) radiation dosage > or = 5500 cGy (p < 0.05); (5)absence of malignant cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (p < 0.05). The most frequent site of recurrence was the local area as shown in seven cases out of 11 recurrent cases. But six patients had diffuse recurrence (4 cases), systemic recurrence (2 cases), and drop metastasis (1 case). Although the recurred PCNSL had rapid progression and a grave prognosis, aggressive treatment prolonged the postrecurrence survival time significantly. Our experience suggests that 1) there are various clinical and radiological presentations and progressions of the disease; 2) treatment method should be decided along with the clinical presentation, progression of disease, and prognostic factors; 3) early diagnosis and early detection of recurrence enable the start of definitive treatment when the medical condition is still satisfactory.

Combined therapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma in immunocompetent patients

A retrospective series of 13 immunocompetent patients with histological diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is presented. The series was divided into Group A, 6 patients treated with radiotherapy alone, and Group B, 7 patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Clinicopathological patterns were similar for the two groups. In Group A, 4 patients achieved complete remission after radiotherapy (45-59.4 Gy) but relapsed within 9 months and died within 21 months of diagnosis. 4 Group B patients received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, and three who received a methotrexate-containing regimen are alive and disease-free at 34, 42 and 45 months, while the fourth died after 11 months. The other 3 subjects in this group were treated with radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy, and died within 15 months of diagnosis. Although radiotherapy is the standard treatment, chemotherapy has potentially an important role in the management of PCNSL. The sequence of combined treatment could be crucial to improvement of outcome.

Leptomeningeal tumor in primary central nervous system lymphoma: recognition, significance, and implications

The true incidence of leptomeningeal tumor in primary central nervous system lymphoma is unknown. We studied prospectively the cerebrospinal fluid profile of 96 patients without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome but with primary central nervous system lymphoma at diagnosis, at completion of treatment, and at recurrence. Magnetic resonance images and pathology slides were examined for evidence of leptomeningeal tumor. Leptomeningeal tumor was diagnosed by (1) positive findings on cerebrospinal fluid cytology, (2) leptomeningeal or subependymal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging, or (3) pathological evidence of leptomeningeal tumor. We recorded whether treatment directed against the leptomeninges was given. Cerebrospinal fluid was examined in 86 of 96 patients at diagnosis and 29 of 42 at recurrence. The incidence of leptomeningeal tumor was 42% at diagnosis and 41% at recurrence. Only elevated levels of protein and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-5 were significantly associated with leptomeningeal tumor (p = 0.012, p = 0.016, respectively). Treatment against the leptomeninges was significantly associated with the probability of achieving a complete response and a longer freedom from relapse. Patients older than 50 years had a worse disease-specific survival but a similar probability of responding to therapy as younger patients. Our data show that leptomeningeal tumor in primary central nervous system lymphoma is more prevalent than originally thought, and indicate the need for therapy inclusive of the leptomeninges in all patients.

Combined occurrence of primary cerebral lymphoma and meningioma

A unique combination of primary cerebral lymphoma and meningioma was encountered in a 38-year-old woman who recently presented clinically with headache and papilledema. The both tumors were identified by CT scan and diagnosed histopathologically after the surgery. The association of a highly malignant primary cerebral lymphoma and a slowly growing meningioma is extremely rare. The possibility of an unknown underlying pathologic mechanism predisposing to multiple tumors should be considered.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma with systemic metastasis: case report and review

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) almost always remains confined to the nervous system. We report a patient with well documented PCNSL who responded to treatment, but subsequently developed pathologically confirmed systemic metastases without repeated local failure 35 months after initial diagnosis. In a review of the world's literature we identified 5 other cases of PCNSL with histologically confirmed antemortem systemic metastases and a total of 62 cases of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma in some way associated with extraneural lymphoma. These cases are classified and discussed. Clinicians caring for PCNSL patients must remain alert to the possibility of systemic metastasis, especially as local control of PCNSL improves.

Primary brain lymphoma. A brief review of clinical aspects and management

Primary C.N.S. lymphoma is a rare tumor. Five such cases were treated in our clinic between January, 1991, and October, 1993. Four patients had tumor decompression and one had total resection. All of them received radiotherapy (radiation dose 40 Gy) and chemotherapy. One patient expired during the immediate postoperative period. Four patients showed a disappearance of the tumor on CT scan after the complete course of therapy of 9 months. Three patients showed recurrence intracranially at 15, 12, and 10 months. All patients died during follow up except one, who has been alive without recurrence for 10 months. Median survival was 13 months.

Pathology with clinical correlations of primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Massachusetts General Hospital experience 1958-1989

BACKGROUND

Primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL-CNS) is an enigmatic disease of uncertain origin. At the Massachusetts General Hospital, 104 patients with NHL-CNS were seen from 1958 through 1989. An impression of changes in the frequency of diagnosis, character of the tumors, and therapy for this disease prompted this study of the pathologic features, clinical data, and natural history of this tumor in these 104 patients.

METHODS

Histologic slides (neurosurgical specimens and autopsy tissues) were available for 99 patients. The tumors were classified by the Working Formulation classification. Immunostaining data and all clinical data were retrieved from the relevant offices and hospital charts.

RESULTS

Primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma tripled in frequency (5.66 cases per year in 1978-89 versus 1.75 cases per year in 1958-77) and now represents 6.6% of all primary brain neoplasms (versus 3.3% before 1978; chi 2 = 17.52, P < 0.01). For the 99 tumors histologically classified, 89% were high grade. Intermediate grade lymphomas, once the second most common subtype, have disappeared since 1983. All tumors had diffuse architecture; 77% (including all 11 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome) were large cell subtypes. Two cases were intravascular lymphoma. With one exception, all of the 41 tumors evaluated were B-cell types; 32 of 40 had monotypic surface immunoglobulin. There was 1 T-cell lymphoma. Of 64 tumor recurrences, 29 were at the initially defined site; 12 were in the leptomeninges, 29 were in other sites in the neuraxis, and 8 were in systemic sites. Systemic metastases have not occurred since 1984. Median survival for the 68 patients who survived after diagnostic surgery and for whom follow-up information could be obtained was 19 months; 9 months for those with high grade tumors and 30.5 months for those with intermediate grade tumors. This difference was not significant (P = 0.13). A separate set of seven patients had focal tumorlike lymphoid infiltrates composed of benign-appearing lymphocytes, which were associated with good long term survival. The differential histologic diagnosis of NHL-CNS was occasionally difficult, and the spectrum of this differential was broader than generally stated.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has increased in frequency even in nonimunocompromised patient populations. This increase has been accompanied by the disappearance of intermediate grade histologic types, suggesting a fundamental shift in the biology of the neoplasms. The introduction of chemotherapeutic regimens appears to have altered the natural history such that systemic metastases outside the central nervous system no longer occur, and there are now some long term survivors of this formerly uniformly fatal disease.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in Japan--a retrospective, co-operative study by CNS-Lymphoma Study Group in Japan

This manuscript reports the results of the first cooperative study on primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in Japan. Of 196 patients registered, 170 were judged as having PCNSL. No patients were immunocompromised. Of the 170 patients with PCNSL, 93 were males and 77 were females. The mean was 56.7 years. One hundred and nineteen tumors were confirmed histopathologically, and 51 were diagnosed by neuroimaging alone. All the tumors were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the Working Formulation for Clinical Usage (WF), 96 out of 119 tumors were classifiable: 53 were diffuse large cell type (55.2%), 17 immunoblastic type (17.7%), 9 diffuse small cleaved type (9.4%), 6 diffuse mixed type (6.3%), 5 polymorphous type (5.2%), 5 small lymphocytic type (5.2%) and 1 small non-cleaved type (1.0%). Of 21 tumors studied immunohistochemically, 18 were B-cell type and 3 were T-cell type. Irradiated patients (144) survived significantly longer than non-irradiated patients, (median survival time, MST: 19.2 and 2.7 months, respectively; p < 0.001). There was a remarkable difference in survival among patients of the intermediate lymphomas; MST (18 months) of patients with large cell lymphoma was significantly shorter than MST (over 96 months) of patients with other intermediate grade lymphomas (small cleaved and mixed) (p < 0.001) and had no significant difference from MST (9 months) of patients with high grade lymphomas. If patients were irradiated with more than 40 Gy, higher doses and different modes of irradiation brought no further survival advantage. Chemotherapy was performed in 87 of 144 irradiated patients (60.4%). No regimens were effective in prolonging survival. Of 144 irradiated patients, a complete or partial response to initial treatment was demonstrated in 91 (63.2%) and 43 patients (29.9%), respectively. Improvement in performance status was confirmed in 82 patients (57.0%). Despite a good response to initial treatments, 88 out of 144 evaluatble patients have died of PCNSL (MST: 19 months). Multivariate analysis based on the Cox hazard model revealed that histology of tumor, age at onset, performance status, and radiotherapy were prognostic factors. Neither chemotherapy nor mode of surgery was a beneficial factor.

Chemotherapy as first treatment for primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system preliminary data

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (NHL-CNS) is thought to account for about 1% of primary brain tumours. Radiation therapy has mainly been applied to treat cerebral lymphoma, but the low cure rate and the lack of enduring response have stimulated the search for alternatives. With the aim of postponing radiotherapy as long as possible, we tested the efficacy of a M-BACOD schedule administered immediately after histological diagnosis in 14 patients. After two M-BACOD courses 10 (71%) patients displayed an objective response (i.e. were apparently tumour-free when examined by CT). In 6 (60%) M-BACOD-responsive patients, radiotherapy was delayed for 5 months (without recurrences after a follow-up ranging from 9 to 18 months). Moreover, in 3 M-BACOD-responsive patients, no recurrence took place (even without radiotherapy) after a follow-up of 6-12 months. We conclude that radiation can be postponed after chemotherapy or delayed until tumor recurrence.

Chemotherapeutic effects of intra-arterial administration of ACNU in primary intracerebral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The authors report five patients with primary intracerebral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who were treated with several cycles of intra-arterial injection of 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) at doses of 80 to 100 mg/m2/injection at several monthly intervals. There was no simultaneous use of steroids, and no patients had concomitant immunosuppression; no patient was human immunodeficiency virus positive. This therapy was initially used in four patients with advanced recurrent lymphoma. These patients experienced tumor progression despite our institutional standard therapy comprising cranial irradiation followed by repeated courses of systemic multi-agent chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, and prednisolone) more than 3 months previously. Based upon brain computed tomography scans and clinical neurologic examinations, three of the four cases showed partial responses ranging from 10 to 12 months in duration, whereas the other patient remained stable without worsening for 8 months. A fifth case was particularly noteworthy; this patient had no prior therapy and intra-arterial chemotherapy alone induced an 18-month, disease-free remission. No significant therapy-related complications nor neurotoxicity were seen. These results suggest that intra-arterial administration of ACNU may be a potential candidate for intracerebral lymphoma therapy.

Primary lymphoma of the brain developing in a boy after a 5-year history of encephalitis: polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization analyses for Epstein-Barr virus

A 7-year-old boy presented with headache, vomiting, fever, epileptic seizure, and a left hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed low-density areas in the left frontal lobe and right occipital lobe. Incisional biopsy of the right occipital lesion showed a diffuse and laminar destruction accompanied by microglial reaction in the cortex. An encephalitis of unknown etiology was suspected without data on viral titers in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Two months later right hemiparesis and ataxia appeared that were alleviated by prednisolone. Thereafter, similar symptoms repeatedly appeared, but disappeared after treatment with prednisolone. Approximately 5 years later, hemiparesis recurred: computed tomography revealed an 8 x 5 cm mass in the right lobe. A brain biopsy revealed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large, predominantly non-cleaved cell type of B-cell nature. The patient died 1 week after the surgery. The first biopsy specimen (taken at 7 years of age) did not contain Epstein-Barr virus genomes even when examined by polymerase chain reaction. The polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization techniques on the second biopsy specimens (taken at 12 years of age) revealed the Epstein-Barr virus sequences in the nuclei of diffuse large cell lymphoma. These findings suggested that the Epstein-Barr virus infection occurring between the first and second biopsies played an etiologic role in the pathogenesis of the brain lymphoma.

Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in patients with non HIV-related primary cerebral lymphoma. A proposal for a prognostic scoring

Between 1982 and 1991, 41 patients were treated for non HIV related primary cerebral lymphoma (PCL) in our institute. The purpose of this study was to perform a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for survival in these patients. The presence of a CSF protein level over 0.6 g l-1 at diagnosis was found to be the most significant unfavourable prognostic factor in univariate analysis and had not previously been reported. Among the five significant prognostic factors at diagnosis, (age over 60 years, performance status--ECOG scale--over 2, memory dysfunction, non hemispheric tumour site, CSF protein level over 0.6 g l-1 at the diagnosis), three independent factors were identified in multivariate analysis: (1) CSF protein level (P = 0.007; RR = 4.7); (2) PS > 2 (P = 0.04, RR = 2.65); (3) age over 60 (P = 0.08; RR = 2.43). Using the regression coefficient of these three parameters, we determined a prognostic index which allowed us to distinguish three risk groups whose theoretical median survival is 4, 20 and 54, months respectively in patients with non HIV related PCL. These results indicate that PCL is an heterogeneous disease in terms of the prognostic in which three subgroups with discriminant survival can be identified.

[Stereotaxic biopsy for primary lymphomas of the central nervous system]

Primary lymphomas of the CNS are rare. However the incidence of these lesions has increased recently. These tumors are often situated in the thalamus and basal ganglia, but can be multifocal. The treatment for primary CNS lymphoma is radiotherapy alone or in association with chemotherapy. Because the associated morbidity is very low stereotactic biopsy is an ideal method for determining the histologic diagnosis in patients with suspected CNS lymphoma. The authors present a study of 49 patients with primary CNS lymphomas in which a stereotactic biopsy was performed.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the brain: can high dose, large volume radiation therapy improve survival? Report on a prospective trial by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG): RTOG 8315

Between 1983 and 1987 the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group conducted a prospective phase II study to evaluate survival in primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the brain treated with whole brain irradiation to 40 Gy and a 20 Gy boost to tumor plus a 2 cm margin. Forty-one patients are reported. Full follow-up is available on 35/41 who have died. Six are alive at 8.8-67.2 months from start of radiation therapy with a median followup of 53.9 months. Overall median survival was 11.6 months from start of radiation therapy and 12.2 months from diagnosis, with 48% surviving 1 year and 28% surviving 2 years. Karnofsky Performance Status and age were significant prognostic factors. Patients with a Karnofsky Performance Status of 70-100 had a median survival of 21.1 months compared to 5.6 months for patients with a status of 40-60 (p less than .001). Fourteen patients less than 60 years of age had a median survival of 23.1 months, while 27 patients greater than or equal to 60 years of age had a median survival of 7.6 months (log-rank p = .001). Disease recurred in the brain in 25/41 (61%) of the patients, (21/41 in the brain only and 4/41 in the brain plus distant metastases). Despite high dose and large volume irradiation, primary Central Nervous System lymphoma still exhibits excessive mortality, especially in older patients. This paradox of the relative radioresistance of primary Central Nervous System lymphoma remains unresolved.

Primary non-AIDS related brain lymphoma. Patterns of failure following radiotherapy

Thirteen patients with primary brain lymphoma (PBL) were treated with radiotherapy. Three patients also had ocular involvement with retinal masses at initial presentation. All but one patient received conventional whole brain irradiation and, in addition, spinal irradiation, intrathecal methotrexate or orbital irradiation were given in two, two and four patients respectively. The radiation doses for involved sites ranged from 40 to 65 Gy, and for prophylactic sites from 30 to 50 Gy. After radiotherapy, all patients had complete regression of the tumor on computed tomography. Nine patients relapsed, 5 of them with brain recurrence. Two patients had ocular recurrence exclusively as their first relapse. The remaining two relapsing patients had bone lesions. One patient died intercurrently. As a result, only three patients are alive and free of disease after 16 to 36 months and all three received some adjuvant treatment in addition to whole brain irradiation.

Primary cerebral lymphoma: report of 24 patients and review of the literature

A retrospective study of 24 patients with primary non-Hodgkin's cerebral lymphoma (non-immunocompromised) is presented. All patients were seen at the Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire between 1976 and 1991. Fifteen patients were over the age of 50 years (range 27-84). The commonest clinical presentation, seen in 16 patients was of an expanding space-occupying lesion. The diagnosis was suspected from the radiological findings but confirmation in every case was by histological examination of biopsy or necropsy material. The tumours were treated either by surgical excision or by biopsy and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given in two patients. Despite these measures the mean survival time was 3.6 months. The clinical radiological and pathological features of these tumours are highlighted with particular emphasis on the use of stereotactic biopsy, immunohistochemistry and chemotherapy in diagnosis and treatment.

Primary central nervous system lymphomas--an update

Primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL), until recently representing about 1% of all brain tumors, show dramatically increased incidence both in high-risk groups (immunocompromised, AIDS) and in the general population. They are extranodal diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, the morphology and classification of which are identical to those of systemic lymphomas, although PCNSL show different biological behavior and diagnosis according to the New Working Formulation and updated Kiel classification may be difficult. The majority are large B cell variants of high-grade malignancy; low-grade subtypes and T cell lymphomas are rare. Sixty per cent occur in the supratentorial space (hemispheres, periventricular) and 12% in the posterior fossa; 30% are multiple (50%-70% in AIDS). PCNSL show a male preponderance with a peak incidence in the 5th-7th decade (3rd-4th in AIDS). The duration of diffuse or focal clinical symptoms averages 1-2 months. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans show single or multiple or diffuse, often typical lesions. Diagnosis is achieved by evaluation of stereotactic biopsy material or cerebrospinal fluid cytology using immunocytological markers. Current therapy in immunocompetent patients, radiation plus corticosteroids and pre- or postradiation polychemotherapy, shows response rates of 85% with a median survival of 17-44 months, a prognosis similar to that for glioblastoma. Meningeal PCNSL is treated with intrathecal methotrexate or cytosine arabinoside. Transliquoral seeding of PCNSL is frequent, distant metastases occurring in 6%-8%. Therapy of AIDS-related PCNSL makes use of radiation and corticosteroids, and rarely of chemotherapy. The pathogenesis of PCNSL is unknown, but Epstein-Barr virus may be a contributory factor.

Total Circulating b Lymphocyte Abnormalities in a Primary Cerebral Localization of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report

The authors describe a case of primary central nervous system lymphoma In a 43-year-old male. Interest in this rare form of B-lymphocyte non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is due to its increasing incidence in the last decade, especially in immunodeficient patients. Extraneural involvement was excluded by staging examinations: bilateral bone marrow biopsy from the posterior iliac crest, bipedal lymphography, abdominal CT scan, skeletal, thoracic and gastrointestinal X-rays, spinal puncture, ORL and clinical examination. The peripheral immunologic state was particularly interesting: there was a substantial decrease in total circulating B-lymphocytes at diagnosis (4.4 % = 80/mmc; nv 13 ± 4 % = 287 ± 130/mmc) and a further decrease after 2 and 4 months of therapy (0.16% = 2/mmc). Three months after completion of therapy, the B-lymphocyte level returned to the base level at diagnosis (7 % = 88/mmc). At 10 months after diagnosis and 3 months after completion of chemotherapy, the patient is alive and in good health except for the after-effects of a left hemiparesis. The etiologic and possible pathogenic factors are considered.

What's new in primary central nervous system lymphomas?

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (CNSL) are uncommon neoplasms accounting for about 1% of primary brain tumors. Patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies including AIDS patients and transplant recipients represent the main high-risk population for CNSL occurrence. An important point emerging from the literature is that CNSL incidence has dramatically increased during the last years not only in HIV infected patients by virtue of the AIDS epidemic spread, but also for unclear reasons in immunologically normal persons. Although c-myc oncogene activation and Epstein-Barr virus infection are considered to play a role in CNSL development, the peculiar tendency of these lymphomas to occur and remain inside the CNS is not well understood and may involve putative CNS binding molecules carried by lymphocytes. The clinical presentation is characterized by a great variety of neurological disorders. Radiological features consist of hyperdense homogeneous deposits within the subcortical white matter with a pattern of marked enhancement after injection of contrast material. The tumor masses are usually ill-defined and multicentric. Although all cytological types can be observed, the most common types belong to the high-grade category of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Monoclonal antibodies reactive with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections can be used in conjunction with stereotactic needle biopsy to provide accurate immunological characterization of CNSL. The large majority of CNSL is of B-cell origin but T-cell lymphomas seem at the present time less exceptional than previously thought. Although radiotherapy and chemotherapy can increase length of survival, the prognosis of CNS remains dramatically poor, the shortest survival being observed in AIDS patients.

Intracerebral malignant lymphoma with fluctuating regression and spatial evolution

Seven patients with histologically proven primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma, characterized by a fluctuating nature with both transient regression and spatial evolution of the tumors without contiguity to the initial lesion, are presented. Although the overall outcome was unfavorable, two cases had a long-term survival of 3 years or more and one of them showed a good quality of life. Correlation among characteristic clinical presentations, computed tomography scans, and prognostic factors after management with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, including steroids, is discussed.

Glucocorticoid therapy obscures the diagnosis of cerebral lymphoma

Neuropathological and radiographical findings of two patients with primary CNS B cell lymphoma are presented. Prior to computerized tomographic (CT)-guided stereotactic biopsy both patients had received glucocorticoid therapy which led to marked tumor regression on CT scans and transient improvement of neurological deficits. Despite careful targeting and serial sampling, multiple biopsy specimens examined cytologically, histologically and immunomorphologically showed nonspecific reactive astrogliosis and conspicuous perivascular infiltrates of T lymphocytes. A second biopsy performed after an interval of 2 and 8 weeks, respectively, and short-term discontinuation of dexamethasone therapy in one case, unequivocally established the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is concluded that steroid therapy may obscure the bioptic diagnosis of cerebral lymphoma. In addition to the well-known antiedematous effect of glucocorticoids neuropathologists and neurosurgeons should be aware of a rapid and pronounced lymphodepletive action of steroids on malignant CNS lymphomas.

Stereotactic biopsy diagnosis of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system. A histological and immunohistochemical study

We report 29 cases of primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) of the Central Nervous System (CNS), 26 of which were diagnosed by stereotactic biopsy and 3 by autopsy. In seven cases the patients were affected by AIDS. Histological examination of this series revealed 15 cases of immunoblastic lymphoma, 12 cases of centroblastic lymphoma, 1 case of lymphoplasmacytic immunocytoma and 1 case of unclassified high grade lymphoma. By immunohistochemistry the B-cell origin of lymphoma cells was demonstrated in 28/29 cases. Eight cases were assigned to the B-cell lineage by demonstration of monotypic surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin or of the B-cell phenotype CD22+, CD2-, CD3-, CD5-. In twenty cases the B-cell nature of lymphoma was identified by positivity with two or more anti-B monoclonal antibodies (LN1LN2MB2) and negativity by the anti-T monoclonal antibody UCHL1. The histologically unclassified case was a peripheral T-NHL (CD1-, CD2+, CD3-, CD5+, CD22-). We conclude that histological and immunohistological evaluation of stereotactic biopsy specimens provides sufficient information for diagnosis and phenotypic characterization of primary NHL of the CNS. These lymphomas exhibit important predominance of high-grade malignancy histological types and are nearly always B-cell derived. In addition, we provide further evidence that the panel of monoclonal antibodies LN1, LN2, MB2, and UCHL1 is useful for immunophenotypic characterization of brain lymphomas when only paraffin embedded stereotactic biopsy tissue is available.

Lymphoma and other HIV-associated malignancies

The immunodeficient state that evolves in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appears to increase their risk of certain types of cancer. Among these are primary lymphoma of the central nervous system, undifferentiated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, anorectal carcinoma, and cutaneous malignancies. These malignancies are similar in incidence to those seen in other immunodeficient patients. Lymphoma, in particular, is associated with a more aggressive disease state. In HIV-infected patients, the disease is usually diagnosed at a more advanced stage, frequently has extranodal involvement, and usually responds poorly to chemotherapy. Viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus and papillomavirus, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of lymphoma and other malignancies in immunosuppressed patients, including those with HIV infection.

Malignant lymphoma of the central nervous system in Japan: histologic and immunohistologic studies

Ninety-seven Japanese patients with so-called primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS-NHL), unrelated to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or organ transplantation, were reviewed. The patients' ages ranged from 1 to 87 years (median: 58 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.77:1. The most frequent past histories were acute appendicitis (appendectomy), head injury, uveitis or iritis, and gastritis or gastric ulcer. These patients presented with symptoms suggesting an expanding intracranial lesion with no signs of extracranial lymphomatous disease. Combined computed tomographic scans, angiography, and findings at surgery or autopsy showed that the cerebrum was the commonest site of involvement, 87% of all cases, with the frontal to temporal region being the most commonly involved. Histologically, the diffuse large-cell type was most frequent and 26% of lymphomas were of high-grade malignancy as defined by the Working Formulation. The reported frequency of high-grade CNS-NHLs in AIDS patients in the United States is much higher (over 60%). Immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections revealed a B-cell nature of the present series of tumors. In 16% of the cases, large numbers of small lymphoid cells with a positive reaction predominantly for anti-T lymphocyte antibodies surrounded the tumors or aggregated around the capillaries. The tumors which were infiltrated by small lymphoid cells showed more favorable prognosis than those which were not, suggesting a host reaction to tumor growth in these patients.

Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. An unresolved therapeutic problem

From January 1979 to December 1987, 35 cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma (CNS-L) were treated. We recently reviewed these cases focusing on treatment results, treatment modalities, and radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy-radiotherapy (CT-RT). Variables such as age, risk factors, presenting symptoms, and histologic condition (all were high-grade or intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas [NHL]) and radiologic data were similar to those of series reported previously. The median survival time was 36 months (+/- 0.2 months) and the disease-free survival (DFS) time was 16 months (+/- 0.12 months). Twelve of 32 patients evaluable for treatment results experienced a recurrence (all but one occurred in the CNS). The DFS rate was 70% for the CT-RT group and 50% for the RT group (median follow-up time, 24 months). Therapeutic results in CNS-L are discussed with special emphasis on a putative role of CT in the management of this rare type of tumor.