[Primary lymphoma of bone: imaging features]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology
• Radiology

Background:

• Primary lymphoma of bone (PLB) is a rare condition.
• Recent advancements in medical imaging and immunohistochemistry have improved understanding of PLB.
• Differentiating PLB from secondary bone lymphomas is critical due to differing prognoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the definition and main features of PLB.
• To emphasize the importance of complete staging workup to exclude secondary bone lymphomas.
• To highlight diagnostic challenges and biopsy methods for PLB, particularly in the skull base.

Main Methods:

• Review of 3 case reports of PLB involving the iliac bone and skull base.
• Analysis of current literature on PLB definition, features, staging, and diagnosis.
• Comparison of diagnostic approaches for skull base versus peripheral bone PLB.

Main Results:

• PLB definition and key features were reviewed.
• The necessity of thorough staging to rule out secondary lymphomas was emphasized.
• Skull base PLB diagnosis is challenging, often requiring neurosurgical biopsy.
• Peripheral bone PLB is more accessible to percutaneous biopsy.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis and staging of PLB are essential for appropriate patient management.
• Advanced imaging and immunohistochemistry play vital roles in PLB assessment.
• Biopsy strategies vary depending on the location of PLB, with skull base sites posing greater diagnostic difficulty.