Hydrocephalus as the sole presentation of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the brain: Report of a case and review of literature

Abstract

Background: The most common lymphoid malignancy in adults is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The median age of occurrence of DLBCL is between 6th and 7th decade of life, although some other types of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are present in younger age. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon type of extranodal NHL, which is either more prevalent or is diagnosed more often than before. Case Description: A 22-year-old man with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) performed at another center was referred with manifestations of shunt malfunction, unusual behavior, dysphasia, and hallucination. The shunt malfunction was handled appropriately several times and exploration of the enhancing cystic temporal lesion confirmed the diagnosis of DLBCL. Conclusion: In this communication, we intend to highlight the issue that hydrocephalus refractory to several interventions can be the sole manifestation of PCNSL and needs special clinical considerations.