Primary EBV-positive Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the CNS under azathioprine treatment

Retrospective and prospective cohort studies suggest that central nervous system involvement occurs in approximately 0.5 % of patients with advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The isolated primary intracranial manifestation of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is an extremely rare finding, with few cases reported in the literature. Little is known about the optimal treatment and prognosis of these tumors. Here, we present a case report with a review of the literature.

A 47-year-old Caucasian man with persistent frontal headache and unspecific vertigo for half a month was diagnosed with nodular space-occupying lesions in the cerebellum. His medical history included multiple sclerosis, which was treated for 20 years with the immunosuppressive drug azathioprine. Further staging revealed no additional lesions suspected of being malignant. The patient underwent total tumor resection. Immunohistopathological examination showed Epstein–Barr virus-associated classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Diagnostic bone marrow punction excluded lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow. The patient had no B symptoms. Consequently, the patient was classified as having stage I_EA disease according to the Modified Ann Arbor Classification of Hodgkin Lymphoma and received systemic chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy for the former cerebellar tumor region. He was in complete clinical remission atthe last follow-up 9 months after the initial diagnosis.

This case report and literature review suggest that multimodal treatment leads to a remarkable clinical outcome in Hodgkin’s lymphoma with intracranial involvement.