Diagnosis of primary cerebral lymphoma with particular reference to CT-guided stereotactic biopsy

Abstract

In establishing the histological diagnosis of primary cerebral lymphoma, stereotactic brain tumour biopsy is the method of choice as the mainstay of therapy is radiation and chemotherapy. This study describes the histopathology and diagnostic immunohistochemistry of 54 primary brain lymphomas in a mainly non-AIDS population. The stereotactic biopsies were performed using the Leksell CT stereotactic frame and a spiral needle which procured about 10-mm-long tissue cylinders. Usually, three successive biopsy cylinders were taken along the target trajectory. Histological examination revealed the prevalence of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the polymorphous centroblastic type. The series did not include any low-grade lymphomas or T-cell lymphomas. L-26 immunohistochemistry resulted in a positive staining of the blasts, thus confirming the B-cell origin of primary brain lymphomas. Small reactive T-lymphocytes and monohistiocytic cells were also found within and at the periphery of the lymphomas and in areas of degeneration. In the biopsies of nine patients, who had shown significant reduction of the lesions on the CT scans, after corticosteroid medication, regressive tissue changes were predominant and consisted of T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and occasionally bizarre reactive astrocytes.