Malignant Lymphoma with Subdural Effusion

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman was admitted for treatment of malignant lymphoma involving the pharynx and abdomen. Lymphoma disappeared after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but she had central nervous system symptoms; euphorism, left facial nerve palsy, right hemiplesia, and disturbance of micturition. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a diffuse dural thicking and a subdural fluid retention. The subdural fluid was determined to be an exudate, and a biopsy of the dura mater revealed a normal dura and a fibrin clot containing lymphoma cells and neutrophils. MRI can be very useful to detect the meningeal involvement of malignant lymphoma.