Journal of Neurocritical Care (Jun 2019)
Primary central nervous system lymphoma with intramedullary spinal cord involvement mimicking inflammatory demyelinating disease
Abstract
Background Spinal cord involvement of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare in a young immunocompetent patient and can be misdiagnosed as an inflammatory demyelinating disease (IDD) of the central nervous system. Case report We report a case of PCNSL mimicking IDD in a previously healthy 46-year-old man with weakness in both hands for 1 week. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spinal cord revealed contrast-enhancing intraparenchymal and leptomeningeal lesions in the cervical spinal cord and medulla oblongata. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis (37/mm3). The patient’s symptoms and lesions improved with corticosteroid treatment. However, he developed semicomatose mentality 5 months later. Brain MRI, ventricular biopsy, and 18F-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography confirmed PCNSL. The patient deceased 3 months later, despite high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy. Conclusion Persistent gadolinium-enhancing MRI lesions along the ventricular regions and spinal leptomeninges could differentiate PCNSL involving the spinal cord from IDD in the early stages of the disease.
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