PRIMARY LYMPHOMA OF THE SPINAL-CORD

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas arising in the spinal cord are extremely rare, Only eight single case reports have been well confirmed in the litera ture, Herein me describe a 59-year-old woman with symptoms attributabl e to a spinal cord lesion, Physical examination revealed neurologic de ficits but no evidence of tumor elsewhere, Although several imaging st udies were performed, only magnetic resonance imaging with use of gado linium revealed the exact site and extent of the lesion, Laminectomy a nd direct examination of the spinal cord disclosed a discolored region at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra, A biopsy specimen mas obt ained, and pathologic examination revealed an intermediate grade, mixe d cell lymphoma of T-cell origin, Radiotherapy was administered to the lesion and adjacent region of the spinal cord with use of 6-MV photon s and an anteroposterior-posteroanterior technique; the total dose mas 45 Gy in 23 fractions. No chemotherapy was given, After 3 years of fo llow-up, the neurologic signs and symptoms were stable, and repeated m agnetic resonance imaging with use of gadolinium showed no residual tu mor. In addition to the case report, nle review the literature on prim ary lymphomas of the central nervous system and discuss treatment reco mmendations.