[Primary brain lymphoma]

Between 1973 and 1989, 739 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were referred here for treatment, of whom 10 (1.4%) had primary brain lymphoma (PBL) and 1 had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There were 7 females and 3 males (mean age 58 years, range 35-77). Duration of symptoms ranged from several days to 3 weeks. The presenting symptoms were secondary to increased intracranial pressure. Computerized tomography (CT) performed in 8 revealed a solitary lesion in 7. Other CT scan features were various degrees of contrast enhancement, edema and midline shift. The most common site was the frontal lobe; infratentorially, the cerebellum was the most frequent site. The diagnosis was established in 8 patients by surgery and in 2 at autopsy. The most common subtype was the diffuse, large cell, immunoblastic lymphoma. 5 patients were irradiated following subtotal excision and 2 had combined radiation therapy and high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy; only 1 had no postoperative treatment. All patients treated by radiotherapy alone died within 3-5 months after diagnosis. The 2 who received combined therapy are alive, 15 and 48 months after diagnosis, respectively.