Leukemic meningitis in a patient with splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL). Meningitis as a possible initial manifestation of SLVL.

BACKGROUND

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) is a low grade, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a stable or slowly progressive clinical course. To the authors' knowledge, central nervous system involvement has not been described previously in patients with SLVL.

METHODS

Morphologic, immunocytochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted to determine the nature of villous lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, spleen, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with massive splenomegaly.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of SLVL was made, based on tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-negative peripheral villous lymphocytosis with CD19+, CD20+, HLA-DR+ phenotypes, and the involvement of spleen white pulp with these cells. Mononuclear cells in the CSF showed the same morphologic and immunocytochemical features seen in the villous lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and spleen. Splenectomy and intrathecal chemotherapy were successful in clearing leukemic cells from the CSF.

CONCLUSION

In this patient with SLVL in whom leukemic meningitis developed, meningitis was found to be a possible initial manifestation of SLVL.