Clinical analysis of patients with primary and secondary extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma of central nervous system

Hematol Oncol. 2023 Apr;41(2):267-274. doi: 10.1002/hon.2894. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Abstract

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma that rarely arise exclusively in or metastasizes to the central nervous system (CNS). Globally, CNS involvement of NKTL heralds a serious prognosis and there is no standard treatment. 19 of 414 patients (4.59%) with ENKL followed were diagnosed with CNS involvement between 2006 and 2020. Two patients had primary CNS (PCNS) NKTL, and 17 patients had secondary CNS (SCNS) invasion. A total of 9 patients survived and 10 patients died. The median overall survival time was 55 months, and the median survival time after CNS invasion was 17 months. The 5-year cumulative survival probability was 45.7%. In conclusion, CNS risk evaluation and prophylaxis treatment can be carried out for patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma prognostic index risk group III/IV. In terms of treatment, systemic therapy based on methotrexate combined with radiotherapy and intrathecal chemotherapy can be selected.

Keywords: central nervous system; extranodal NK-T-cell; lymphoma; prophylaxis; treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / therapy
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell* / drug therapy
  • Prognosis