GLUCOCORTICOID-INDUCED LONG-TERM REMISSION IN PRIMARY CEREBRAL LYMPHOMA - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report a 25-year old immunocompetent woman with a high grade primar y non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (PNHL-CNS) in w hom the administration of dexamethasone alone during three months prod uced a complete clinical and radiological response lasting over four y ears. If complete remission of PNHL-CNS induced by glucocorticoids are well known, the opportunity to observe glucocorticoid-induced remissi on for a long period of time without radio- and chemotherapy is rare. Only nine other cases of PNHL-CNS with complete remission induced by g lucocorticoids lasting from 6 to 60 months, were found in the literatu re and are summarized here. Duration of glucocorticoids therapeutic ef fect in PNHL-CNS is probably underestimated. Glucocorticoids cannot be recommended as sole initial treatment for PNHL-CNS. However, we sugge st standard therapies to be delayed in those patients responding compl etely to glucocorticoids where radio- and chemotherapy should be contr aindicated (kidney, liver, bone marrow failure, pregnancy).