Primary central nervous lymphoma at the cerebellopontine angle: A case report

Abstract

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) confined to the brain, eyes, spinal cord, or leptomeninges without systemic involvement. When occurring in the brain, PCNSL commonly occurs deep within the cerebral hemispheres although occasionally it arises in the cerebellum. Because of the infiltrative and diffuse nature of PCNSL, surgery has been considered to have no role in the treatment. When PCNSL in contrast MRI is suspected the diagnostic confirmation was obtained from a brain biopsy. We have conducted 9 open resections of PCNSL because of atypical MRI and clinical evaluation. We suggest that biopsy with intraoperative pathological examination is required to assist in optimizing the resection strategy.

Keywords

• PCNSL resection
• Cerebellopontine angle PCNSL
• PCNSL imaging