Primary CNS lymphoma: an audit of cases treated over a nine year period and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

Primary CNS lymphoma is a rare tumor comprising around one percent of all brain tumors. This report is an audit of eight cases [5 males, 3 females, age range 17-55 years] which were accrued over nine years. All patients underwent surgical decompression, followed by radical Radiotherapy [RT]. Five out of eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy in the form of CHOP or PCV. Of the patients who relapsed two received CHOP as a salvage therapy, one received PCV therapy and lomustine with intrathecal methotrexate. At a median follow up of 16 months [range 1 to 39 months] the two year disease free survival and overall survival were 13 percent and 38 percent respectively, which is in accordance with the literature. High dose RT to whole skull with boost therapy is indicated for all the cases. However, the role of chemotherapy and the appropriate regime needs to be defined with certainty.