title: Intravascular lymphomatosis of the brain. Report of a case using an intraoperative cytologic preparation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) of the brain is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by proliferation of tumor cells in the lumina of blood vessels. Although an intraoperative cytologic examination of the brain is routinely done, the cytologic features of IVL are rarely encountered by pathologists. We report a case of IVL diagnosed by an intraoperative cytology preparation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 62-year-old woman presented with a seizure and fever. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were insufficient to establish a diagnosis but suggested a cerebral infarction, so a stereotactic brain biopsy was performed. On an intraoperative cytologic examination, a few small and medium-sized vessels were filled with tumor cells showing atypical, pleomorphic, large nuclei. Immunohistochemical staining using paraffin-embedded tissue revealed intraluminal tumor cells expressing leukocyte common antigen and CD20 but not CD3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This disease must be considered one of the diagnostic possibilities in any patient with rapidly progressive dementia and cerebral infarction. Increased awareness of this disease and intraoperative early diagnosis are important for its successful management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, #5 San, Wonchon-Dong, Paldal-Gu, Suwon, South Korea, 442-749. hanpathol@yahoo.co.kr
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jang Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyunee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens