Central nervous system relapse of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma: A case report

TL;DR

A patient with a skin lymphoma experienced a rare relapse in the brain and was successfully treated with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation.

Contribution

This case report highlights a rare CNS relapse of PC-ALCL and suggests that systemic chemotherapy and ASCT may be effective.

Findings

PC-ALCL can relapse in the central nervous system despite initial skin localization.

Systemic chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation effectively treated CNS lesions in this case.

Abstract

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC‐ALCL) has a high relapse rate. However, it typically remains confined to the skin and has a favorable long‐term prognosis. We describe a case of PC‐ALCL that experienced a relapse in the central nervous system (CNS). The patient presented with somatosensory abnormalities in the extremities after local treatment of skin lesions and was diagnosed with CNS relapse of PC‐ALCL. Methotrexate, procarbazine, and vincristine therapy, and alternating brentuximab vedotin, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) cured the CNS lesions, whereas the skin lesions relapsed early. PC‐ALCL could relapse in the CNS; systemic chemotherapy and ASCT may be effective.

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