Spinal cord compression as the first presentation of lymphoma--a review of 15 cases

Fifteen cases are described in which the first presentation of lymphoma was acute spinal cord compression. Lymphoma was diagnosed in laminectomy biopsy specimens using a combination of conventional histological techniques and immunohistochemistry. The patients were predominantly middle-aged or elderly men, some of whom were subsequently shown to have disseminated lymphoma. In other cases, however, the disease was apparently localized to the spine. The tumours consisted of 11 B-cell diffuse follicle centre cell lymphomas, three T-cell lymphomas and one lymphoblastic lymphoma. Following treatment, generally by laminectomy and radiotherapy, some patients have made good recoveries, especially where the disease was localized in the spine.