Gastrointestinal stromal tumor with intracranial metastasis: case presentation and systematic review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial metastasis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) is rare but presents unique treatment challenges. We present a case of intracranial metastasis of GIST with a systematic review of the literature. A literature search using key terms "'gastrointestinal stromal tumor' AND brain AND metastasis"" was conducted through May 2019 via Embase and Pubmed according to PRISMA guidelines. Only cases describing intradural metastases rather than calvarial or intraorbital metastases were included. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old woman with history of GIST metastatic to the liver presented with a six-week history of left facial weakness, left hearing loss, and left facial numbness, and a one-week history of headaches, gait disturbance, and dizziness. MRI revealed a contrast-enhancing dural-based left middle cranial fossa mass measuring 2.9 cm × 3.1 cm × 3.4 cm with extension into the internal auditory canal and cerebral edema. A left temporal craniotomy was performed to excise the lesion, and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility at her preoperative baseline. Intraoperative pathology revealed a spindle cell neoplasm, postoperative MRI demonstrated gross total resection of the lesion, and microscopic analysis demonstrated sheets of spindled tumor cells with short ovoid, irregular, hyperchromatic nuclei and scattered large atypical nuclei without extensive necrosis. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for KIT proto-oncogene (CD117, c-KIT), and the patient was put on imatinib (400 mg/day). CONCLUSIONS: Of the 18 cases analyzed and our present case, metastasis typically involved the cerebrum with only one in infratentorial elements. The tumors in seven of the cases involved the dura, and one case metastasized to the pituitary. Eight patients died following treatment. Surgery remains the mainstay of intracranial metastatic GIST, however there are many reports of good responses to radiation or chemotherapy alone. More investigation is required to determine the best treatment course for these patients.

Cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma with central nervous system involvement: report of a rarity with review of literature.

Primary cutaneous gamma-delta (γδ) T-cell lymphoma is an extremely rare and aggressive variant of cutaneous lymphoma. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, a rare finding, and hemophagocytic syndrome are two complications that are commonly fatal. We describe a 58-year-old patient presenting with skin plaque who subsequently developed subcutaneous nodules diagnosed as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), clinically resembling 'mycosis fungoides'. The patient was treated with repeat topical radiation therapies but had frequent relapsed disease. Approximately 4.5 years after, the patient presented with third and sixth cranial nerve palsies and was found to have CNS involvement by lymphoma per positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and a biopsy of foramen magnum. Phenotypically, the tumor cells were CD3(+)/CD4(-)/CD8(-)/CD7(+)/CD5(-)/CD30(-)/TCRαß(-)/TCRγδ(+). Despite aggressive strategies taken, the patient expired 3 months after the diagnosis of the CNS lesion. A retrospective investigation proved the original CTCL to be γδ T-cell in origin, confirming an indolent cutaneous γδ T-cell lymphoma with eventual CNS manifestation. We present this case to draw attention to the entity, which can occasionally present with misleading histopathologic and clinical features. In addition, we provide a review of the literature to summarize clinical and pathologic features of the reported similar cases.

Central nervous system intravascular lymphoma leading to rapidly progressive dementia.

Intravascular lymphoma is an uncommon subtype of B-cell lymphoma with neoplastic cells limited to the lumen of small blood vessels. We report a case of a 52-year-old man who presented with constitutional symptoms and rapidly progressive dementia. He was found to have diffuse leptomeningeal and faint parenchymal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging and was subsequently diagnosed with intravascular lymphoma following a brain biopsy. He responded remarkably well to systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. The diagnosis and treatment of intravascular lymphoma have been guided by a few case reports and are largely based on expert opinion.

Therapy-related B lymphoblastic leukemia with t(4;11)(q21;q23)/AF4-MLL in a patient with mantle cell lymphoma after recent aggressive chemotherapy: a unique case report.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a mature B-cell lymphoma associated with the hallmark translocation t(11;14)(q13;32), which involves the cyclin D1 (CCND1) and immunoglobin heavy chain (IgH) genes. It may transform to a more aggressive blastoid or pleomorphic variant, with or without acquisition of chromosomal abnormalities. MCL could also present with a leukemic phase with marked lymphocytosis. A literature search did not reveal any prior reports of MCL transforming to or followed by a B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).