# Central Nervous System Involvement in Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma

**Authors:** Kabeer Ali, Jennifer Miatech, Falguni Patel, Abhinav Karan, Walter JR Quan

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.81250 · 2025-03-26

## TL;DR

This paper discusses a rare case of central nervous system involvement in a patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma, emphasizing the challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

The paper presents a novel clinical case highlighting the rare occurrence of CNS involvement in splenic MZL.

## Key findings

- CNS involvement in splenic MZL can present with non-specific neurological symptoms.
- A patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and splenic MZL developed secondary CNS involvement.
- Diagnosis of CNS involvement in MZL requires consideration in patients with new neurological symptoms.

## Abstract

Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZL) represents a heterogeneous group of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) originating from the marginal zone of B cells in lymphoid tissues. Typically, MZL is classified as nodal, extranodal, and MZL with splenic involvement. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare, whether it presents as a primary dural lymphoma or as a consequence of secondary CNS involvement. CNS involvement of MZL presents with non-specific symptoms such as headaches, focal neurological deficits, cognitive impairment, and seizures in the setting of mass effect. It is essential to consider new CNS infiltration as a possibility in patients with hematological malignancies who exhibit new neurologic symptoms. Herein, we present a case of a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and recently diagnosed with splenic MZL who presented with status epilepticus and was subsequently diagnosed with secondary CNS involvement, highlighting its associated diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MONDO:0019462)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** NHL (MESH:D008228), headaches (MESH:D006261), dural lymphoma (MESH:D008223), B-cell lymphoma (MESH:D016393), nodal (MESH:D013611), seizures (MESH:D012640), Central Nervous System (MESH:D002493), MZL (MESH:D018442), status epilepticus (MESH:D013226), cognitive impairment (MESH:D003072), hematological malignancies (MESH:D019337), neurological deficits (MESH:D009461)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12031390/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12031390