Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study

Background. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma contained in the brain and the spinal cord as well as the meninges, cranial nerves, eyes, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to its variable presentation and lack of associated B-symptoms,...

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Main Authors: Danielle A. Bazer, Ewa Zabrocka, Nicholas Koroneos, Agnieszka Kowalska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/8815502
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author Danielle A. Bazer
Ewa Zabrocka
Nicholas Koroneos
Agnieszka Kowalska
author_facet Danielle A. Bazer
Ewa Zabrocka
Nicholas Koroneos
Agnieszka Kowalska
author_sort Danielle A. Bazer
collection DOAJ
description Background. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma contained in the brain and the spinal cord as well as the meninges, cranial nerves, eyes, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to its variable presentation and lack of associated B-symptoms, it is quite challenging to diagnose PCNSL, if there is not a high level of suspicion. Methods. This is a retrospective case series examining 13 human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) negative patients with PCNSL and DLBCL type, with a median age of 75 years old. Results. The most common presenting symptom was altered mental status. The frontal lobes, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and corpus callosum were most affected. Prior to brain biopsy, 4/13 patients were on steroids, which did not affect biopsy results and the average time to diagnosis was 1 month. 9/13 patients who did not receive steroids had an average time to diagnosis of less than 1 month. Conclusion. Although steroid administration did not appear to diminish the yield of the biopsy, it is a best practice to withhold steroids prior to biopsy to decrease the time to diagnose PCNSL.
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spelling doaj-art-59864ffe7ef147a685dbfc52ab75d7042025-02-03T06:42:42ZengWileyCase Reports in Oncological Medicine2090-67142023-01-01202310.1155/2023/8815502Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective StudyDanielle A. Bazer0Ewa Zabrocka1Nicholas Koroneos2Agnieszka Kowalska3Department of NeurologyDepartment of Radiation OncologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyBackground. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma contained in the brain and the spinal cord as well as the meninges, cranial nerves, eyes, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to its variable presentation and lack of associated B-symptoms, it is quite challenging to diagnose PCNSL, if there is not a high level of suspicion. Methods. This is a retrospective case series examining 13 human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) negative patients with PCNSL and DLBCL type, with a median age of 75 years old. Results. The most common presenting symptom was altered mental status. The frontal lobes, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and corpus callosum were most affected. Prior to brain biopsy, 4/13 patients were on steroids, which did not affect biopsy results and the average time to diagnosis was 1 month. 9/13 patients who did not receive steroids had an average time to diagnosis of less than 1 month. Conclusion. Although steroid administration did not appear to diminish the yield of the biopsy, it is a best practice to withhold steroids prior to biopsy to decrease the time to diagnose PCNSL.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/8815502
spellingShingle Danielle A. Bazer
Ewa Zabrocka
Nicholas Koroneos
Agnieszka Kowalska
Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
title Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
title_full Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
title_fullStr Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
title_full_unstemmed Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
title_short Central Nervous System Lymphoma: The Great Mimicker—A Single-Institution Retrospective Study
title_sort central nervous system lymphoma the great mimicker a single institution retrospective study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/8815502
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