Management of neurotropic low-grade B-cell lymphoma: report of two cases.

BACKGROUND

Low-grade lymphomas do not commonly involve the central or peripheral nervous system.

METHODS

Case report and review of the literature of two cases of B-cell lymphoma of the extranodal marginal zone type involving the head and neck region with evidence of extensive neurotropism are detailed in this report.

RESULTS

One patient was initially seen with a mass in the temporalis muscle and the other with a masticator space mass. The clinical course was indolent in both cases, although associated imaging studies suggested a more aggressive tumor. Both patients were treated with moderate-dose radiotherapy only. At the time of writing, one patient has no evidence of disease 6.5 years after treatment and the other at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests that some marginal zone lymphomas exhibit a low-grade clinical course despite an aggressive radiographic pattern of perineural and neurotropic spread. This type of lymphoma might be effectively treated with moderate-dose radiotherapy.