Primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis receiving tocilizumab: illustrative case

BACKGROUND: Although the risk of developing malignant lymphoma is higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in the general population, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in patients with RA is extremely rare. In recent years, there has been concern that biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), widely administered to patients with RA, might increase the risk of cancer development. The authors report the first case of PCNSL in a patient with RA receiving the bDMARD tocilizumab. OBSERVATIONS: A 70-year-old man who was diagnosed with RA in 2010 was treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) from 2010 to 2015. Tocilizumab was commenced in 2012. In 2018, he developed gait disturbances, and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple contrast-enhanced lesions in the basal ganglia and brain stem. Stereotactic brain biopsy led to the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and finally PCNSL was diagnosed. He was treated with five courses of MTX 3.5 g/m(2), and his disease has been in remission for 34 months. LESSONS: Low-dose MTX and bDMARDs are associated with the concern of increased cancer risk in patients with RA. Because tocilizumab has been in use for a relatively short time, further accumulation of cases and careful follow-up are necessary.