Incidence, clinical features, treatment and outcome of primary central nervous system lymphoma in Norway A ten-year national survey

Increasing incidence and continued dismal outcome of primary central nervous system lymphoma in Norway 1989–2003

“…However, like in many other studies, good performance status and young age had a favorable impact on survival 13,24,[39][40][41][42] ; patients who received only symptomatic therapy had shorter survival [18][19][20] and combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was superior to chemotherapy alone 43 and radiotherapy alone. 44 We observed an estimated median survival of 44 months with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy compared with a median survival of 9 months with radiotherapy alone and 4 months with chemotherapy alone, which led to fatal complications in 5 of 20 patients (25%).…”

“…Because of the pathologic review and updated records from the Norwegian Cancer Registry and the treating hospitals, the current sample has undergone minor changes from our previous studies of PCNSL diagnosed in Norway between 1989 and 1998. 13,28 For patients who were diagnosed while they were alive (n 5 80 patients), performance status at the time of histologic diagnosis was specified in 39 patients and was estimated retrospectively from the medical records in 41 patients. The cause of death was established based on medical records and death certificates (available in 81 of 89 patients who died).…”

“…16 In later reports, combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy resulted in a median survival of 33 to 60 months and 5-year survival rates as high as 22% to 40%. 13,[17][18][19] The disadvantage of combined-modality therapy is the high risk of late neurotoxicity, which affects from 26% to 58% of patients and especially affects those aged >60 years. [19][20][21][22] Surgical resection yields no survival benefit and may increase functional deficits.…”

“…11,12 In a previous study from Norway, we observed a nonsignificant trend toward increased incidence from 1989 to 1998 (P 5 .069). 13 The treatment of PCNSL has changed considerably the last decades. Throughout the 1980s, wholebrain radiotherapy was the mainstay of treatment.…”

CT and MR Imaging Features of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in Norway, 1989–2003

“…5 PCNSL represents 2%-6% of all primary brain tumors 2,6,7 and 1%-2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. 3,5,8 Brain biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis.…”