Intracranial nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: immunopathologically-confirmed case and review of literature

J Neurooncol. 2005 Nov;75(2):185-8. doi: 10.1007/s11060-005-1862-z.

Abstract

Advances in immunophenotypic profiling now permit characterization of natural killer/T-cell (NK/T-cell) lymphoma as distinct from other extranodal T- and B-cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. NK/T-cell lymphoma presents most commonly in the nasal cavity. Disease progression to the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare phenomenon. We present here, to our knowledge, the first immunophenotypically-confirmed case of direct extension of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma to the brain. In addition, we review the literature with respect to NK/T-cell lymphoma metastasis to the CNS. The overall prevalence of NK/T-cell lymphoma CNS metastasis is less than 3%. Although rare, CNS invasion portends a poor prognosis, emphasizing the importance of early and accurate immunophenotype profiling and the need for novel, aggressive therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • CD56 Antigen / immunology
  • Craniotomy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nose Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Nose Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Nose Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Nose Neoplasms / microbiology
  • Nose Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nose Neoplasms / surgery
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • CD3 Complex
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD56 Antigen