Central nervous system relapse in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A single-center study of 532 patients

To define the cumulative risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse in systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); to assess the risk factors of age, sex, malignancy grade, stage, localization, and response to initial therapy; and to evaluate the effect of CNS prophylaxis.

An unselected group of 532 patients with systemic NHL. A retrospective analysis.

Eleven patients presented with systemic as well as CNS localization, whereas in 55 patients, CNS relapse occurred later. The cumulative risk of CNS relapse at 4 years for all 532 patients was 19%. High-grade NHL carried a 39% risk of CNS relapse, with the vast majority of relapses occurring in the first 14 months after the initial diagnosis. The cumulative risk in patients with intermediate-grade NHL was considerable (22%) and dispersed throughout a much longer period (6 years). Patients with low-grade NHL still carried a 7% risk of CNS relapse; in all these patients, low malignancy grade was transformed into a higher malignancy grade at that time. In a multivariate analysis, high- and intermediate-grade NHL and advanced stage were independent risk factors for CNS relapse. There was not any strong evidence for a beneficial role of CNS prophylaxis in patients with intermediate- and high-grade NHL, but a retrospective analysis cannot be conclusive with regard to the effect of therapy. Systemic relapse occurred rapidly after CNS relapse, resulting in a median survival time after CNS relapse of only 2 months.

Patients with high- and intermediate-grade NHL carry a considerable risk of CNS relapse. Advanced stage is an additional independent risk factor. The role of CNS prophylaxis seems to be disappointing, but a retrospective analysis cannot be conclusive. Prognosis after CNS relapse is poor.