Primary malignant lymphomas of the brain. A clinicopathological study of five cases.

We report here the cases of five patients with primary malignant lymphoma of the brain; all died and a necropsy was performed in each case. Although these lymphomas remain localized, their prognosis is worse than that of lymphomas arising in any other site. Our five cases confirmed the reported natural history of this lesion as a highly malignant neoplasm. There was a discrepancy between the macroscopic appearance of the new growth and its microscopic extent; and the extensive infiltration of the surrounding tissue was not always detected by CT scan. Although primary malignant lymphomas of the brain are radiosensitive and radiotherapy can prolong life, careful clinical judgment is necessary to assess the desirability of the poor quality of life that may follow. Patients with severe intellectual impairment may receive no benefit from aggressive radiotherapy.