Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. An unresolved therapeutic problem

From January 1979 to December 1987, 35 cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma (CNS‐L) were treated. We recently reviewed these cases focusing on treatment results, treatment modalities, and radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy‐radiotherapy (CT‐RT). Variables such as age, risk factors, presenting symptoms, and histologic condition (all were high‐grade or intermediate‐grade non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas [NHL]) and radiologic data were similar to those of series reported previously. The median survival time was 36 months (± 0.2 months) and the disease‐free survival (DFS) time was 16 months (± 0.12 months). Twelve of 32 patients evaluable for treatment results experienced a recurrence (all but one occurred in the CNS). The DFS rate was 70% for the CT‐RT group and 50% for the RT group (median follow‐up time, 24 months). Therapeutic results in CNS‐L are discussed with special emphasis on a putative role of CT in the management of this rare type of tumor.