title: Primary malignant lymphoma of brain. A review of four cases diagnosed by means of CT-guided stereotactic biopsy.
abstract: In a series of 66 CT-guided stereotactic biopsies (SB) of the brain performed in 1995-1998, four were found to be the primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (PCNSL). All cases were studied with immunohistochemistry (broad panel of antibodies; reactions performed mainly on cytological smears) and with the use of an electron microscopy. In an immunophenotyping all cases were positive for leukocyte common antigen (LCA) and 3/4 showed B-cell phenotype. Since the PCNSL are typically located in central, periventricular region of brain and the surgical removal does not bring any benefit, the stereotactic biopsy is a method of choice to make a definite diagnosis that opens the chances for implementation of chemo- and radiotherapy. The diagnostic difficulties that are derivatives of an extremely small amount of the available biopsy material were discussed and the role of the immunophenotyping and of the electron microscopy for avoiding the possible diagnostic mistakes was stressed. Cytological smears stained with H&E and the smears and histological slides with immunohistochemical reaction against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showing sometimes extremely dense network of astrocytes mingled with neoplastic lymphoma cells are especially interesting and seem to suggest the involvement of astroglia in the pathogenesis of PCNSL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adamek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moskała
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kałuza
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gościński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D001706:Biopsy; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm