Solitary primary CNS lymphoma: long term survival following total resection

Primary non-Hodgkin's CNS lymphoma is rare, constituting 0.3-1.5% of all intracranial neoplasms in patients without AIDS. In the past 10 years the incidence has tripled in this population. The role of surgery is commonly limited to obtaining adequate tissue for diagnosis. This has precluded the evaluation of total surgical resection for a surgically accessible solitary lesion. We have encountered a 36-year-old healthy white male with primary CNS lymphoma who is HIV-negative and who has survived over five years disease free after total surgical resection of his lymphoma.