Primary CNS lymphomas – 20-year-period evaluation study

Abstract

Background & Objective: Primary CNS lymphoma is an extra-nodal, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) confined to the cranio-spinal axis (brain, eye, meninges, spinal cord) without evidence of systemic involvement. Most prevalent form is Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this study is to evaluate statistical features of this malignancy in Republic of Macedonia. Method: This is a 20-year-period retrospective evaluation study (1998-2018) of 45 primary CNS limphoma cases operated in the University Neurosurgery Clinic, diagnosed at the Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty-UKIM, Skopje, Macedonia using histological and immunohistochemical analyses (exclusion, diagnostic NHL and subtype-specific immunohistochemistry algorithms). Statistica for Windows 7 was used. Results: From total 4929 cases of benign and malignant brain tumours, primary CNS lymphomas comprise 45 cases (0,91%); 24(53,3%) males (55,0±14,7 years), 21(46,7%) females (57,9±14,8 years), age 8 to 74 years (56,4±14,6 years); most common localization: cerebrum – 13(28,9%) cases. Age group distribution: most cases -15(33,3%) in 60-69 years group, only 1(2,2%) in 0-19 years group. DLBCL was diagnosed in 30(66,7%) cases, the rest subtypes in 15(33,3%) cases. There was no significant difference between the age of males and females diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma (Mann-Whitney U test: Z=1,104; p=0,2695). There was no significant statistical difference between age groups and lymphoma subtypes (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA: H=5,099; p=0,5311). Conclusion: We found that DLBCL was diagnosed in 2/3 of the cases and no significant difference of lymphoma subtype between males and females.