Brain biopsy-proven intravascular lymphomatosis presenting as rapidly recurrent strokes-two case reports

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is rare and usually goes undiagnosed until the time of autopsy because of its protean neurological manifestations.

In this report, we describe two women who developed rapidly recurrent strokes within one to two months. In both cases, brain magnetic resonance imaging showed progression of bilateral cerebral infarcts, and histopathology from brain biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of IVL. The first case did not receive chemotherapy and died of septic shock one month after diagnosis. The second case received whole brain radiotherapy followed by rituximab-containing chemotherapy, and experienced partial improvement of neurological deficits. However, she began to deteriorate in consciousness at 8 months and became stuporous at 10 months after the onset of symptoms.

IVL should be considered as a possible etiology if multiple strokes occur in a short period of time.