[An adult case of precursor B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma extending from right neck to upper cervical spinal region].

We report the rare adult case of upper cervical spinal tumor diagnosed precursor B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. A 48- year-old male had suffered from right neck pain and swelling for two months. He had no neurological symptoms. The serum level of IL-2 receptor was high (1,820 U/ml). The radiological examinations including MRI showed the tumor extending from right neck to the epidural space from medulla to the C4 level. The pathological diagnosis of biopsy specimens was malignant lymphoma. Since the early pre-B lymphoblast antigens were positive by the flow cytometry, the diagnosis was precursor B cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. This type of lymphoma is highly aggressive. The intensive chemotherapy regimen such as hyper-CVAD was superior to the lymphoma-like regimens. In the case showed the progressive neurological symptoms such as myelopathy and urinary incontinence, the immediate surgical decompression of the spinal cord may be necessary. Measurement of IL-2 receptor and biopsy with flow cytometry were necessary to work out the treatment strategy of the spinal malignant lymphoma. In this case, the complete response (CR) of the tumor was achieved with hyper-CVAD regimen and radiation therapy.