Primary central nervous system lymphomas in immunocompetent patients

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare malignancy, typically affecting immunocompromised individuals.
• This study focuses on PCNSL occurring in immunocompetent patients, a less common presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case series of PCNSL in immunocompetent patients.
• To review current literature on PCNSL diagnosis and management in this population.
• To highlight recent advances and controversies in the field.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nine immunocompetent PCNSL patients, including demographics, symptoms, and treatment.
• Comparison of clinical data with existing literature.
• Review of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

• The study included patients aged 44-68 years, with 62.5% females.
• Common symptoms included hemiparesis (75%), headache (37.5%), seizures (25%), and ataxia (25%).
• Diffuse B-cell lymphoma was the most frequent histological type, with surgical resection and radiotherapy demonstrating positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Complete surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is an effective treatment for PCNSL in immunocompetent patients.
• Chemotherapy is considered a secondary treatment option, reserved for specific cases.
• Findings suggest a potential divergence from established treatment protocols in the literature.