[A case of malignant lymphoma in the skull after head injury associated with multiple bone tumors]

A case of malignant lymphoma in the skull after head injury associated with whole bone metastasis is reported. The patient was a 66-year-old man who was admitted to Almeida Memorial Hospital because of headache and general fatigue 2 months after head injury. After admission tumors appear in the frontal and occipital region and grew rapidly. Plain craniogram revealed large map-like bone destructions and multiple punched out lesions. Bone scintigram with 99mTc-MDP revealed multiple accumulations of RI in the skull, vertebrae, ribs and pelvis. CT scan revealed destructive, markedly enhancing bone tumor which was compressing the brain as an extradural mass in the left frontal and occipital regions. Pathological examination of the tumor revealed malignant lymphoma of non-Hodgkin type and diffuse pleomorphic type. Though combination chemotherapy with ACNU, FT 207, PSK, CHOP (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, Vincristine and Predonisone) and Acracinomycin A was performed after operation, and brought forth regression of tumor size and improvement of clinical symptoms transiently, he died 6 months after the onset because of recurrence in many bones with pathological fracture and complications such as pneumonia, DIC and acute renal failure. At autopsy the tumors were found to be localized only in the bones, but in none of lymphnode or visceral organs. Malignant lymphoma appearing initially as a skull tumor is rare, and its diagnosis and treatment were discussed.