PRIMARY CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM LYMPHOMA WITH SYSTEMIC METASTASIS - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) almost always remains confined to the nervous system. We report a patient with well document ed PCNSL who responded to treatment, but subsequently developed pathol ogically confirmed systemic metastases without repeated local failure 35 months after initial diagnosis. In a review of the world's literatu re we identified 5 other cases of PCNSL with histologically confirmed antemortem systemic metastases and a total of 62 cases of central nerv ous system (CNS) lymphoma in some way associated with extraneural lymp homa. These cases are classified and discussed. Clinicians caring for PCNSL patients must remain alert to the possibility of systemic metast asis, especially as local control of PCNSL improves.