[A case of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma associated with transverse myelopathy]

We present a 68-year-old man suffering from transverse myelopathy since May 2010. The spinal cord MRI showed a T2- hyperintense lesion invading the Th5 level spinal cord. Although the patient transiently responded to steroid-pulse therapy, his neurological symptoms degenerated three months after wards. On admission, he had an apparent hepatosplenomegaly, but no lymphadenopathy. A laboratory examination revealed bicytopenia and increased levels ofLDH and soluble IL-2 receptors. Histological analysis ofa skin biopsy specimen demonstrated proliferation of large atypical lymphoid cells positive for CD20 and CD79a in the small capillaries, leading to our diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma(IVLBCL). Thus, the patient's progressive myelopathy was probably caused by IVLBCL invasion. The patient responded well to Rituximab-combined CHOP therapy(R-CHOP), and his neurological symptoms improved immediately. A spinal cord MRI showed the disappearance of the abnormal signal after two courses of R -CHOP. IVLBCL often presents with neurological manifestations, including transverse myelopathy.