Enteropathy-associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL) with intracranial metastasis : a rare and dismal condition.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a rare type of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. EATL with intracranial metastasis is even rarer. We report a case of EATL with intracranial metastasis. CASE PRESENTATION A 36-years old man presented with five weeks history of intractable diarrhea. Colonoscopy was normal, but abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed mural thickening at duodenojejunal junction, and subsequent jejunofiberoscopy showed a circumferential ulceration at the jejunum. Histo-immunopathology confirmed the diagnosis of enteropathyassociated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) type II. His disease course proved to be aggressive and refractory to standard front-line chemotherapy, and eventually progressed through second-line salvage regimen with CNS and intracranial involvement. He died nine months after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSION: EATL with brain metastasis is a very rare occurrence with dismal prognosis.