Cerebellar primary central nervous system lymphoma: Case series report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare cranial malignant haematological tumour. PCNSL in the cerebellar region is less common than PCNSL in other encephalic regions. A diagnosis of cerebellar PCNSL is relatively difficult to make due to its diverse imaging manifestations. The aim of this case series report is to determine whether surgery could be used to confirm the diagnosis of cerebellar PCNSL and the effect of surgical treatment. METHODS: We report 3 cases of cerebellar PCNSL that underwent neuronavigation microsurgery under general anaesthesia. The operation was performed by author 3 and author 5. One patient underwent left lateral ventricular drainage on the fourth and tenth days after the operation due to postoperative obstructive hydrocephalus. All patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy after histological confirmation. OUTCOMES: All patients' tumours were completely removed. One patient developed obstructive hydrocephalus twice during the perioperative period after the operation, was given drainage, and then recovered from the hospital. The other two patients recovered and were discharged smoothly without complications. One patient died 9 months after the operation, and the other two patients survived. The prognosis of 3 patients was related to tumour size and timely follow-up chemo-radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: The histology of all patients showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GCB phenotype). Suspicious cerebellar PCNSL patients should undergo surgery to confirm the diagnosis, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.