Peculiar characteristics of primary intracranial malignant lymphoma. Report of three cases

Abstract

The biological characteristics of primary intracranial malignant lymphoma have not been fully understood in comparison with systemic malignant lymphoma. The authors presented 3 cases of verified intracranial malignant lymphoma which showed peculiar findings in the postoperative follow-up CT scans and evident alteration of histological features. Results of immunological examination of these tumors were different in each case; one was of non-T non-B type, another was B-cell type, and the third was negative. The most interesting finding from CT follow-up was that two tumors showed spontaneous regression of the high density mass lesions and recurrence in remote areas. Though not all of the CT lesions could be subjected to exploration, all surgical specimenes were verified as primary intracranial malignant lymphoma. Beside multiplicity of the tumors during follow-up, the size and the shape of the tumors often changed, and histological transformation was confirmed in one case.