Dural Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Mimicking Meningioma: A Case Report

Abstract

Meningeal involvement by malignant lymphomas most commonly represents secondary spread from advanced systemic disease. Usually manifesting as a diffuse leptomeningeal infiltrates, it is reportedly detected in 4–10% of patients with systemic lymphomas and, in the majority of cases, is of the aggressive histologic type (1, 2). Lymphoma rarely presents as a localized mass within the dura. When it does present in this fashion it is frequently mistaken for meningioma. The majority of cases of dural lymphomas reported in the literature have been primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type lymphomas (1, 2). Dural-based anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is primary or secondary, is an extremely rare entity. Few cases have been reported. In this report, we present computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiographic findings and histopathologic features of a case of dural ALCL in which the initial manifestation of disease was a localized dural mass. Subsequent investigations confirmed the presence of systemic involvement of the disease.