Premium
Current strategies in the diagnosis of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma of the central nervous system
Author(s) -
Baraniskin Alexander,
Deckert Martina,
SchulteAltedorneburg Gernot,
Schlegel Uwe,
Schroers Roland
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08928.x
Subject(s) - leptomeninges , medicine , lymphoma , pathology , primary central nervous system lymphoma , cerebrospinal fluid , central nervous system , neuroimaging , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , psychiatry
Summary Lymphomas can arise within the central nervous system (CNS) as primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) typically involving the brain and less often the leptomeninges, eyes, and spinal cord. In contrast to PCNSL, secondary CNS lymphoma (SCNSL) is considered to originate as quasi metastasis from systemic lymphoma spreading to the CNS. Both types of CNS lymphomas are predominantly tumours of the diffuse large B‐cell type and represent aggressive diseases necessitating a rapid diagnosis. Following neuroimaging based on magnetic resonance imaging, stereotaxy and histopathological diagnosis of CNS lymphoma currently remain obligatory to plan treatment. However, progress in cytopathological, immunophenotypic, and molecular genetic analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been achieved recently and potentially will facilitate lymphoma diagnosis in the future. This review describes the diagnostic procedures in patients with suspected CNS lymphomas, primarily PCNSL. In addition to a summary of the standard diagnostic work‐up, an overview and discussion of current data on different techniques for evaluation of the CSF in CNS lymphoma are given.