Primary Cauda Equina Lymphoma Treated with CNS-Centric Approach: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Primary cauda equina lymphoma is an extremely rare entity previously documented in only 24 reported cases. Primary cauda equina lymphoma represents a subtype of neurolymphomatosis, which occurs when lymphoma cells with neurotropism infiltrate and destroy peripheral nerves, spinal nerve roots, nerve plexuses and cranial nerves. The cauda equina is an anatomic structure located in the lower part of the spinal canal consisting of multiple lumbar and sacral nerve roots. Herein, we report a unique case of primary cauda equina diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as a tumor mass in the lower spinal canal, which was treated with a CNS-centric treatment approach followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Keywords:

• primary cauda equina lymphoma
• neurolymphomatosis
• diffuse large B cell cauda equina lymphoma
• MATRIX chemoimmunotherapy
• autologous stem cell transplant

Ethics and Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this manuscript and any accompanying images. Institutional approval was not required for publication.

Disclosure

Dr Han W Tun reports grants, personal fees from Acrotech pharmaceutical, grants from Celgene, grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, grants from Mundipharma, grants from TG Therapeutic, grants from Curis, grants from Zhejiang DTRM Biopharma, outside the submitted work. In addition, Dr Han W Tun has a patent 9464093 (USA), a patent 9839632 (USA), and a patent 10301273 (USA). The authors declare that there are no other conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.