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Lymphomatous meningitis
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Lymphomatous meningitis

Contributors: Andrea Wasilewski MD, Jamie Adams MD, Richard L. Barbano MD, PhD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Lymphomatous meningitis is the spread of lymphoma to the leptomeninges, either around the brain, spinal cord, or nerve roots. This can occur either as a focal area or diffusely along the meninges. Symptoms include headache, radicular pain, cranial nerve dysfunction, or symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction. Seizures are a rare presentation. Communicating hydrocephalus and subsequent increased intracranial pressure is a potential complication of lymphomatous meningitis, which can add significant morbidity.

In contrast to infectious meningitis, fever is often absent. Leptomeningeal involvement can occur both in lymphomas primary to the central nervous system (CNS) and in systemic lymphoma secondarily invading the CNS. Lymphomas rarely begin in the leptomeninges. Presence of leptomeningeal involvement of the lymphoma may affect prognosis and treatment decisions and typically carries a poor prognosis.

Codes

ICD10CM:
C79.32 – Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges

SNOMEDCT:
426128009 – Lymphomatous meningitis

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

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Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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Therapy

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References

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Last Reviewed:12/11/2018
Last Updated:12/11/2018
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Lymphomatous meningitis
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A medical illustration showing key findings of Lymphomatous meningitis : Headache
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