[Epidural non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as a spinal cord compression].
OBJECTIVE
epidural localization is a rare presenting sign of non Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we describe the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical data in 13 cases (9 men and 4 women) of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with epidural involvement.


RESULTS
the median age was 63 years (range 36-76 years). Clinically, most patients complained of back pain (median duration, 3.4 months) followed by acute neurological deterioration. In 10 out of 13 tumors, a thoracic localization was observed and a decompressive laminectomy was performed in all cases. Histology and immunohistochemistry showed all tumors to be B-cell lymphomas which were classified as: lymphocytic lymphoma (3 cases), prolymphocytic lymphoma (1 case), follicular lymphoma (2 cases), diffuse large cell lymphoma (6 cases) and AIDS associated Burkitt lymphoma (1 case). Post-operative staging revealed bone and/or paravertebral involvement in 11 cases and disseminated disease in 5 cases. Median survival following complementary therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in most cases, was 20 months.


CONCLUSIONS
histological features of epidural lymphomas are similar to other extranodal lymphomas and their prognosis is better than other epidural neoplasms, especially when the tumor is localized.
Petit
B
B
Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire Dupuytren, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges cede, France.
Roche
I
I
Paraf
F
F
Jaccard
A
A
Boncoeur
M P
MP
Moreau
J J
JJ
Bordessoule
D
D
Labrousse
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011878:Radiotherapy; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents