Spontaneous Regression Of Intracerebral Lymphoma
WeingARTen, K. L., Zimmerman, R. D., & Leeds, N. E. (1983). spontaneous regression of intracerebral lymphoma. Radiology, 149(3), 721–724. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.149.3.6359262
View Original Source →Abstract
Transient spontaneous regression of lesions was identified in four patients with intracerebral lymphoma. This finding, which may be related to cyclic changes in biological tumor activity as well as infarction and/or hemorrhage within the neoplasm, is not a good prognostic sign. Furthermore, when initial neuroradiologic studies suggest a diagnosis of lymphoma, subsequent spontaneous resolution of lesions should not be mistaken for a reliable sign of a benign, self-limiting disease. The diagnosis of this malignant neoplasm, despite regression of lesions, should be aggressively pursued early in the patient's clinical course when therapy would be most beneficial.
Case Details
Disease Location
Intracerebral (right cerebral peduncle, caudate nucleus)
Personal Characteristics
69 -year-old female
Clinical Characteristics
She had a 2 week history of altered mental status, left hemiparesis, and bell palsy initial CT without ontrast demonstrated hyperdense lesions involving the right cerebral peduncle with extension across the internal capsule to involve the caudate nucleus mass effect was present although edema was absent serial cts were performed the transient nature of the lesions suggested a self-limiting process such as infarction or hemorrhage the hemiparesis initially regressed minimally, but then slow progressive deteriation in the neurologic and general body functions developed 3 months later after the initial CT, she died apparently of non-neurologic causes autopsy identified malignant undifferentiated lymphoma, affecting the brain diffusely foci of severe involvement were seen in the regions that initially showed abnormalities on CT, infarcted tissue was visualized within and adjacent to these lesions
Remission Characteristics
Serial cts over the next two weeks with and without contrast demonstrated a gradual regression in lesion density and mass effect minimal contrast enhancement was identified on the second study but subsequently resolved
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
No major mechanism proposed mention of vessel invasion that may lead to occlusion with secondary infarction and/or hemorrhage into tumor tissue
Clinical Treatment
None reported
Non-Clinical Treatment
None reported