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Acta Neurochirurgica Feb 2012Bone involvement is a common finding in many types of lymphoma. Cranial vault involvement is extremely rare, and the majority of patients are found at staging to have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Bone involvement is a common finding in many types of lymphoma. Cranial vault involvement is extremely rare, and the majority of patients are found at staging to have concurrent disease in lymph nodes. Thirty-eight cases of primary lymphoma of the cranial vault have been reported to date.
METHODS
This article presents a rare case of primary cranial vault lymphoma and conducts a systematic review of the current literature. A total of 36 articles comprising 38 cases were included for analysis. The relevant demographic, clinical, and imaging characteristics, as well as the treatment and outcomes of this unique disease presentation were studied.
RESULTS
The average patient age was 60 years. There was no significant difference in patient gender. The predominant patient complaint was a subcutaneous scalp mass. Of the patients, 11.7% were immunocompromised. CT scans showed signs of osteolysis in 74% of lesions and hyperostosis in 5%, and the cranial vault was observed as normal in 18% of cases. MRI was performed in 23 cases. There was a wide range of histological subtypes, with a slight predominance of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Treatment consisted of surgery alone, surgery followed by radiotherapy, and surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The follow-up periods ranged from 5 months to 6 years, with a median value of 7 months. Sixteen patients were followed up to 12 months; 13 of them were alive at 1 year from diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
Primary cranial vault lymphoma is an extremely rare finding. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scalp masses. Although the analysis of outcome of the reported cases is difficult because of the small number of occurrences of this entity and the variability of follow-up, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy seems to offer better outcomes.
Topics: Antigens, CD20; Biomarkers, Tumor; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Meningeal Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Skull Neoplasms
PubMed: 21842209
DOI: 10.1007/s00701-011-1124-0 -
Oncotarget Jan 2016There is limited data on the impact of specific patient characteristics, tumor subtypes or treatment interventions on survival in breast cancer LM. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There is limited data on the impact of specific patient characteristics, tumor subtypes or treatment interventions on survival in breast cancer LM.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted to assess the impact of hormone receptor and HER-2 status on survival in breast cancer LM. A search for clinical studies published between 1/1/2007 and 7/1/2012 and all randomized-controlled trials was performed. Survival data from all studies are reported by study design (prospective trials, retrospective cohort studies, case studies).
RESULTS
A total of 36 studies with 851 LM breast cancer subjects were identified. The majority (87%) were treated with intrathecal chemotherapy. Pooled median overall survival ranged from 14.9-18.1 weeks depending on study type. Breast cancer LM survival (15 weeks) was longer than other solid tumor LM 8.3 weeks and lung cancer LM 8.7 weeks, but shorter than LM lymphoma (15.4 versus 24.2 weeks). The impact of hormone receptor and HER-2 status on survival could not be determined.
CONCLUSIONS
A median overall survival of 15 weeks in prospective studies of breast cancer LM provides a historical comparison for future LM breast cancer trials. Other outcomes including the impact of molecular status on survival could not be determined based on available studies.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 26543235
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5911 -
Diagnostic Cytopathology Oct 2016Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoid neoplasms is a relatively infrequent event that demands accurate identification. The purpose of this article is to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by lymphoid neoplasms is a relatively infrequent event that demands accurate identification. The purpose of this article is to review studies comparing diagnostic accuracy of flow cytometry (FCM) and cytomorphology (CM) for meningeal involvement from lymphoid neoplasms. Primary publications from the last 26 years were identified searching MedLine, Scopus, and Web of Science and systematically scanning bibliographies of identified articles. Only studies reporting complete results were included. We assessed study quality using the QUADAS-2 tool. For each study, we extracted informations regarding study population, technical details about sample preparation, data analysis, and results. Twenty-seven studies were included. A great heterogeneity regarding study populations and analytical procedures was observed among studies. Percentages of samples giving a positive result with both FCM and CM range from 0.3% to 42.9% among studies, whereas double negative samples go from 0% to 96.3%. Samples with positive FCM but negative CM are reported by 89% (24/27) of the studies with rates ranging from 3.5% to 61.5% of total specimens. On the contrary, samples with positive CM and negative FCM are found in 48% (13/27) of the studies with percentages ranging from 0.5% to 10%. Despite all the differences observed among studies, almost all of them state that employing flow cytometry along with conventional cytology increases the number of positive CSF samples for lymphoma involvement, although a few cases remain in whom only morphology can correctly identify malignant cells. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:841-856. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topics: Cytodiagnosis; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Meningeal Neoplasms; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 27458077
DOI: 10.1002/dc.23539 -
Neurosurgery Aug 2015The role of brain biopsy in patients with cryptogenic neurological disease is uncertain. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The role of brain biopsy in patients with cryptogenic neurological disease is uncertain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the risks and benefits of diagnostic brain biopsy for nonneoplastic indications in immunocompetent patients.
METHODS
Appropriate studies were identified by searching electronic databases.
RESULTS
We screened 3645 abstracts and included 20 studies with a total of 831 patients. Indications for biopsy were: (1a) severe neurological disease of unknown etiology in adults (n = 7) and (1b) in children (n = 2); (2) suspected primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) (n = 3); (3) chronic meningitis of unknown cause (n = 3); (4) atypical dementia (n = 4); and (5) nonneoplastic disease (n = 1). Diagnostic success rates calculated for subgroups were 51.3% (34.5-68.1) for 1a, 53.8% (42.9-64.5) for 1b, 74.7% (64.0-84.1) for 2, 30.3% (17.2-45.4) for 3, and 60.8% (41.2-78.8) for 4. Clinical impact rates were 30.5% (13.6-50.6) for 1a (n = 6), 67.1% (42.8-87.3) for 1b (n = 2), 8.3% (2.3-20.0) for 3 (n = 1), and 14.2% (6.5-24.3) for 4 (n = 2). Lymphoma (n = 32) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (n = 30) were the most common diagnoses on the final histopathology reports of positive brain biopsies in 1a. In 1b, encephalitis (n = 7), PACNS (n = 6), and demyelination (n = 6) were the most common. The odds ratio for achieving a diagnostic biopsy when there was a radiological target was 3.70 (P = .014, 95% confidence interval, 1.31-10.42).
CONCLUSION
Brain biopsy in cryptogenic neurological disease was associated with the highest diagnostic yield in patients with suspected PACNS. The greatest clinical impact was seen in children with cryptogenic neurological disease. The presence of a radiological target was associated with a higher diagnostic yield.
Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Child; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Radiography; Reproducibility of Results; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System
PubMed: 25856111
DOI: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000000756 -
Neuro-Chirurgie Dec 2022Spinal hemangiomas are rare vascular malformations resulting from proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. The cavernous form is the most common and represents 5-12%...
BACKGROUND
Spinal hemangiomas are rare vascular malformations resulting from proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. The cavernous form is the most common and represents 5-12% of spinal vascular malformations, while the capillary form is rare.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 56-year-old patient with no past medical history presented with progressive spinal cord compression symptoms localizing to the T10 level with MRC grade 4 proximal paraparesis. Preoperative MRI demonstrated a well-delineated, dumbbell-shaped, epidural lesion, without bony involvement, resulting in spinal cord compression at the T7 and T8 levels. The patient underwent gross total surgical resection of the lesion. At the one month follow up, the patient's strength improved to MRC grade 5, and sensation had fully returned. The histopathological diagnosis was a capillary hemangioma. Exclusively epidural capillary hemangiomas are extremely rare with only 26 cases reported in the literature. They are mainly located at the thoracic level (T4-T6). The MRI features include a well-circumscribed mass, hyperintense on T2-weighted sequence in 92% of cases, isointense on T1-weighted sequence in 88% of cases, and homogeneous contrast enhancement in 100% of cases. No tumor recurrence has been observed after gross total surgical removal.
CONCLUSIONS
When evaluating progressive spinal cord compression by a purely epidural spinal lesion, the differential diagnosis should include capillary hemangioma, in addition to schwannoma, meningioma, and lymphoma. Early and complete surgical removal is the first line treatment.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Spinal Cord Compression; Endothelial Cells; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Hemangioma, Capillary; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Meningeal Neoplasms; Vascular Malformations; Epidural Neoplasms
PubMed: 35477014
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2022.03.004 -
Leukemia & Lymphoma Oct 2013
Review
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD20; Biomarkers; Dura Mater; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 23363270
DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2013.771399 -
Cureus Jun 2020Scalp defects with exposed calvaria that have previously been irradiated present a unique reconstructive challenge. Patients with previously radiated scalp defects often...
Scalp defects with exposed calvaria that have previously been irradiated present a unique reconstructive challenge. Patients with previously radiated scalp defects often have few reconstructive options due to poor health or personal choice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of non-operative management for patients with prior radiotherapy to the scalp who developed exposed calvaria. The outcomes of interest were major and minor complications related to exposed calvaria with a time frame of follow-up of greater than one year or death from any cause. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with prior radiotherapy and surgery for skin cancer to the scalp who subsequently developed exposed calvaria. Data from four surgeons from 2008 to 2019 was collected. Next, a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL was conducted to identify articles in which non-operative management was utilized for exposed calvaria post-radiotherapy. Nineteen patients were identified who received radiotherapy either before developing recurrent malignancy requiring operation or requiring radiation postoperatively because of close or involved margins and who subsequently developed exposed calvaria. Six of these patients had an additional attempt at local flap or skin grafting that failed. All patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of three or four. All were managed with local wound care. Ten patients had near-complete healing with wound care alone. Eight patients are still alive from one to six years after the presentation. One patient, who remains alive, developed an intracranial abscess requiring long-term antibiotics but was medically compromised by concomitant myelodysplastic syndrome, mantle cell lymphoma on chemotherapy, atrial fibrillation on anticoagulation, and heart failure. Three patients developed new malignancies requiring re-operation with watchful waiting. Two of the three cases resulted in failure to control disease, but control of malignancy occurred in one case with resection of recurrent cancer and exposed bone. The systematic review of the literature yielded three studies that met the inclusion criteria. None of the studies encountered cases of meningitis, encephalitis, or death due to the non-operative treatment of exposed calvaria post radiation. Coverage of the calvaria with well-vascularized tissue is the reconstructive goal in the majority of circumstances. This case series and systematic review found that non-operative management of exposed calvaria post-radiotherapy can be an option for patients who are either not candidates for aggressive surgical treatment or who refuse surgery.
PubMed: 32714689
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.8751 -
Clinical & Translational Oncology :... Oct 2021Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a rare but deadly complication of cancer in which the disease spreads to the cerebrospinal fluid and seeds the meninges of the central...
PURPOSE
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a rare but deadly complication of cancer in which the disease spreads to the cerebrospinal fluid and seeds the meninges of the central nervous system (CNS). Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) involves treatment of the entire CNS subarachnoid space and is occasionally used as a last-resort palliative therapy for LMD.
METHODS
This review examined literature describing the role of CSI for LMD from solid and hematologic malignancies in adults. A search for studies published until September 1, 2020 was conducted using PubMed database.
RESULTS
A total of 262 unique articles were identified. Thirteen studies were included for analysis in which a total of 275 patients were treated with CSI for LMD. Median age at time of irradiation was 43 years, and most patients had KPS score of 70 and higher. The most common cancers resulting in LMD were acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, and acute myelogenous leukemia. Median CSI dose was 30 Gy and 18% of patients were treated with proton radiation. 52% of patients had stable-to-improved neurologic symptoms. Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 5.3 months. Patients treated with marrow-sparing proton radiation had median OS of 8 months. The most common treatment toxicities were hematologic and gastrointestinal events.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite advances in systemic and radiation therapies, LMD remains a devastating end-stage complication of some malignancies. Treatment-related toxicities can be a significant barrier to CSI delivery. In select patients with LMD, marrow-sparing proton CSI may provide safer palliation of symptoms and prolong survival.
Topics: Adult; Breast Neoplasms; Craniospinal Irradiation; Female; Humans; Karnofsky Performance Status; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Meningeal Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Organ Sparing Treatments; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Radiotherapy Dosage
PubMed: 33881707
DOI: 10.1007/s12094-021-02615-8 -
Journal of Neuro-oncology Oct 2010Bone involvement is a common finding in many types of lymphoma (Clin Oncol 9(3): 195-196, 1997). However, cranial vault affliction has been regarded as an exceedingly... (Review)
Review
Bone involvement is a common finding in many types of lymphoma (Clin Oncol 9(3): 195-196, 1997). However, cranial vault affliction has been regarded as an exceedingly rare presentation, particularly in the case of primary lymphoma (J Neurosurg 108(5): 1018-1020, 2008). Our objective is to describe a series of five immunocompetent patients with histologically confirmed cranial vault lymphoma (CVL), and to conduct a systematic review of the current literature. Our review points out identical imaging patterns in most of the lesions for all reported CVL cases, despite their different histological subtypes. This typical pattern can be seen on computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an expansive tumor that affects all three compartments of the cranial vault, including the scalp, skull bone, and pachymeninges, even in the absence of osteolysis. We argue that the absence of osteolysis might enhance diagnostic capability. In the appropriate clinical setting, these features represent important disease characteristics that may help with an earlier diagnosis. Large B-cell lymphoma was the most common subtype of primary CVL.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Dura Mater; Female; Humans; Immunocompetence; Lymphoma; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; PubMed; Scalp; Skull; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 20146083
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-010-0137-5