title: Primary intracranial lymphomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare form of aggressive extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), has increased in incidence during the last three decades and occurs in both immune compromised and immune competent hosts. It has an overall poor prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study attempts to further delineate the clinico-pathological, immunohistochemical and radiological profile of PCNSL at Jeddah to King Faisal Hospital and Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computerized search through the archives of King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre between July 2000- December 2012 identified 15 patients with pathologically confirmed PCNSL. These were analyzed retrospectively. Their clinico-pathological, immunohistochemical and radiological data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 15 PCNSL patients, 8 (53.3%) were females and 7 (46.6%) were males. There was female predilection especially in the age group of 40-59 years. Mean age at diagnosis for all patients was 50.4 years. There was no patient in the pediatric age group. The most common location in the brain was the frontal region in 7 patients (46.6%), 7 (46.6%) had multiple intracranial masses; all 15 (100%) were Non Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas, among which 13 (86.6%) were diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. All 15 (100%) cases showed diffuse and strong positivity for CD 45, and CD 20. Fourteen patients were immune competent while one was immune compromised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCNSL often occurs in middle-aged and aged patients. There is female predilection especially in the middle age. Frontal region is the most common location with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma being the predominant subtype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shagufta T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Mufti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Baeesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jaudah A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Maghrabi
keywords: Central nervous system; lymphoma; primary