Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

Low signal intensity lesions on brain susceptibility-weighted MRI in a patient with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

Yo Tsuda, M.D.1), Takuya Oguri, M.D., Ph.D.1), Keita Sakurai, M.D., Ph.D.2), Tomohiro Kajiguchi, M.D., Ph.D.3), Hideki Kato, M.D., Ph.D.1) and Hiroyuki Yuasa, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Tosei General Hospital
2)Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital
3)Department of Hematology and Oncology, Tosei General Hospital

A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal behavior and generalized convulsion. Brain MRI revealed no abnormalities upon admission. Levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase and soluble interleukin-2 receptors were significantly elevated, whereas the initial bone marrow puncture and random skin biopsy findings were nonmalignant. On the tenth day of admission, brain MRI revealed dot and strip-shaped low signal intensity lesions on susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) disseminated mainly within the cerebral cortex. Administration of high dose methyl-prednisolone improved neither his condition nor these MRI findings. Ground-glass opacities within the bilateral lungs later emerged on the chest CT. The results of a transbronchial lung biopsy and second bone marrow puncture were consistent with a diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL). Despite the lack of histopathological confirmation, the low signal intensities on brain SWI in this case were also considered IVLBCL lesions, reflective of micro-hemorrhagic changes.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (747K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 57: 504|508, 2017)
key words: intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL), hemorrhagic change, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)

(Received: 1-Mar-17)