[Treatment results of intra-arterial ACNU infusion chemotherapy for primary cerebral malignant lymphoma].

From May, 1987 to January, 1991, eight patients harboring primary cerebral malignant lymphoma (primary, six cases; recurrent, two cases) were treated by intra-arterial ACNU infusion chemotherapy. All but two cases also had hyperosmotic blood brain barrier (BBB) modification. Six primary cases had conventional teletherapy of 46-58.7 Gy (average 54.1 Gy) and one recurrent case had been irradiated again by 18 Gy. The follow-up period was 3 to 67.5 months (average 21.4 months). In six cases demonstrating measurable tumors on diagnostic images, all showed a complete response. The 1- and 2-year survival time was 50.0% and 37.5%, respectively, with a median survival time of 13.0 months. These were somewhat better than our previous results, but not better than those in the literature. Although intra-arterial ACNU infusion chemotherapy with BBB modification was not considered superior to other chemotherapy regimens, it yielded some long-surviving cases. Hence this chemotherapy is still worth using for treatment of primary cerebral malignant lymphoma.