Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis: diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging characteristics

Intravascular malignant lymphomatosis is an unusual condition in which malignant lymphoma cells form microscopic masses within the blood vessels of the central nervous system. Occlusion of the involved blood vessels can lead to multifocal cerebral infarcts. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals a subacute infarction pattern (bright high signal intensity on b = 1000 s/mm2 images and intermediate apparent diffusion coefficient values) in the cerebral deep white matter. We present MRI findings of a 68-year-old woman with intravascular malignant lymphomatosis involving the cerebral white matter and the thoracic cord.