Radiation therapy in the management of primary malignant lymphoma of the brain

This study reviewed 21 patients with primary malignant lymphoma of the brain. A rapid onset of symptoms was observed in most patients with a median interval of 10 weeks between first symptom and diagnosis. All received cranial irradiation following either gross total removal of tumor (9 patients), biopsy alone (11 patients) or no surgery (1 patient). Two patients received short courses of chemotherapy. Early clinical improvement was commonly observed following commencement of radiation but this was not sustained. Overall survival from diagnosis was 47% at one year and 16% at two years. Analysis of treatment parameters failed to indicate any well-defined factors which may have resulted in an improved survival. There was a suggestion that males fared better than females and that irradiation of the entire brain to a minimum dose of 5000 rad was associated with longer survival