title: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cauda equina.
abstract: Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The clinical presentation is variable, depending on its localisation within the nervous system. Only 1% of primary CNS lymphoma emerges in the spinal cord, and the prevalence of primary lymphoma of the cauda equina is unknown, but probably even rarer. Diagnosing primary lymphoma of the cauda equina is difficult, since it can mimic other more common disorders such as a herniated disc, especially in its early stages. Here we present two cases of primary cauda equina lymphoma in which diagnostic work up took a long time, as the final diagnosis was only reached after a nerve root biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, MUMC, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, MUMC, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Draak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, MUMC, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim E J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7498-5717
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010291:Paresis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology