Intravascular lymphoma as an unusual cause of multifocal cerebral infarctions discovered on FDG-PET/CT

Neth J Med. 2010 Jun;68(6):261-4.

Abstract

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare and aggressive variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with frequent involvement of the central nervous system. Its atypical presentation often delays the diagnosis and due to its aggressive behaviour, the diagnosis is made post-mortem in half of the cases. We report a case of a 67-year-old male patient presenting with speech difficulties and balance disturbances in whom a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed multiple lesions of the white matter, denoted as embolic infarctions. He was treated for a suspected endocarditis with antibiotics, but deteriorated neurologically with persistent fever. A consecutive FDG -PET /CT revealed an increased uptake in the adrenals, of which a biopsy showed IVLB CL. The patient was successfully treated with systemic R-CHOP with intrathecal methotrexate and achieved complete remission after six cycles of chemotherapy. The potential role of FDG-PET/CT is illustrated by this case leading to an exceptional diagnosis of IVLBCL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / complications
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18