|
|
All 8 patients had focal neurological deficits, 7 had encephalopathy or dementia, 5 had epileptic seizures, and 2 had myelopathy. Death occurred at a mean of 7.7 months (range, 1-24 months) after the onset of symptoms. All patients had ele vated cerebrospinal fluid protein levels, 4 had pleocytosis, and 2 had an elevated IgG level in their cerebrospinal fluid. Of the 4 patients who underwent a brain biopsy, 1 was diagnosed as having IVL before death. Intravascular lymphomatosis is an unco mmon disease with a myriad of potential neurological manifestations. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and a pathological examination. If diagnosed early, aggressive chemotherapy is potentially curative, although the overall prognosis remains dismal. |
|