A case of primary central nervous system lymphoma mimic neuromyelitis optica

Abstract

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare. And the symptoms of PCNSL are atypical, it is extremely easy to be misdiagnosed as other diseases. However, early treatment is crucial which is requesting early diagnosis. We report a case of a 47-year-old man who was initially diagnosed as neuromyelitis optica (NMO) on the basis of clinical findings, slightly high Aquaporin4 (AQP4) (1:10) and high signals of magnetic resonance imaging. Though his symptoms progressively improved after steroid pulse treatment, but worse when steroid was decreased to 40 mg per day. We considered the patient should be diagnosed as PCNSL. After the examination of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and positron emission tomography (PET), the results indicated PCNSL was most possible. Therefore we gave him stereotactic biopsy of deep of supratentorial, which showed non-Hodgkin malignant B-cell lymphoma.

Keywords

• lymphoma
• neuromyelitis optica
• primary central nervous system
• case report
• pcnsl