[Primary central nervous system lymphoma: a report of 28 patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical characteristics, reasonable mode of treatment and prognostic factors in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with PCNSL treated from 1989 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, results of treatment and prognostic factors were analyzed by SPSS10.0 statistic software.


RESULTS
Of 28 patients, 18 men and 10 women with a median age of 52 years. The median survival time was 2 years (range 6 months-6 years). The 5-year survival rate was 21.4%. Nineteen patients had single-locus lesion and 9 multi-locus lesion, 78.6% of the patients were diagnosed as having B-cell origin, its main type being diffuse large cell lymphoma. According to international working formulation (WF), moderate-grade of histopathology was observed in 57.7% (15/28). Cox regression analysis revealed that single- or multi-locus lesion was only independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0417). Combined chemotherapy showed significant efficacy for those patients who had lesion of B-cell origin, high grade or multi-locus lesion, and the efficacy of irregular chemotherapy was better than that of regular chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary central nervous system lymphoma has a special prognostic factor. Chemotherapy plays a very important role in comprehensive treatment, irregular chemotherapy should be adopted as a regular treatment.
Hu
Yi
Y
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Feng
Feng-yi
FY
Shi
Yuan-kai
YK
Zhou
Li-qiang
LQ
Gu
Da-zhong
DZ
Wang
Qi-lu
QL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013713:Teniposide / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D013713:Teniposide; D011241:Prednisone