title: Primary cerebral ALK-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a child. Case report and literature review.
abstract: A 4-year-old African American male was referred to the Pediatric Neurosurgery Service for evaluation of new onset seizures and worsening mental status. An MRI of the brain revealed a pineal region mass with diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement and compression of the basilar cisterns. A biopsy of the brain revealed histologic and immunophenotypic findings characteristic of ALK-1+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). ALCL rarely occurs in the central nervous system and poses a significant diagnostic challenge often leading to a delay in the initiation of appropriate treatment. We describe a case of a rapidly deteriorating clinical course in a child with central nervous system ALCL and review the current literature on ALCL occurring in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery Service, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Isaac O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Karikari
authors.forename: Keyne K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagoo
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C425364:ACVRL1 protein, human; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II