2017 Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 09-15
The diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is commonly obtained via a stereotactic biopsy. The use of radiographic images (CT, MRI, and PET) frequently fails to distinguish PCNSLs from other brain diseases. Flow-cytometry based and cytological analyses of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are useful for the evaluation of leptomeningeal PCNSLs, however, these tests are usually insensitive to focal PCNSLs.
Recently, several useful diagnostic biomarkers in CSF for PCNSL were reported. Among these CSF biomarkers, CSF interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-X-C motif ligand 13 (CXCL13) are the most promising useful diagnostic biomarkers for PCNSLs. Both CSF IL-10 and CXCL13 have high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing in PCNSL patients, and moreover, the combination IL-10 and CXCL13 is quite highly specific tool for diagnosis of PCNSL. However, there are several problems in these markers. Our goal in this review is to highlight and update the diagnostic biomarkers in CSF for the patients with PCNSLs, and describe future directions.
