CNS lymphoma

A lymphoma that starts in the brain, spinal cord, or eyes.

What CNS lymphoma is

Lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells, which are part of the immune system. Usually it starts in lymph nodes. Sometimes it starts inside the brain, the spinal cord, or the eyes instead.

When it starts there, it is called primary CNS lymphoma. CNS means central nervous system.

Why it is treated differently

This is a blood cancer sitting in the brain, not a tumor that grew from brain cells. So the treatment follows lymphoma, and often does not lead with surgery the way many brain tumors do.

Your team may check your eyes and take a sample of the fluid around the spine, because this lymphoma can be in those places at the same time.

Steroids can shrink it quickly, which can hide it on a scan. That is why teams often want a biopsy before starting steroids, if it is safe to wait.

What to ask your team

• Have my eyes and spinal fluid been checked?
• Do we need a biopsy before steroids?
• Which specialist is leading my care?