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Table 1 Characteristics of AIDS patients with PCNSL in Norway during 1989–2003 (n = 29).

From: AIDS-related primary central nervous system lymphoma: a Norwegian national survey 1989–2003

 

n %

Gender

 

   Female

3 (10)

   Male

26 (90)

Supposed mode of transmission

 

   Homosexual

17 (59)

   Heterosexual

8 (28)

   Drug addict

2 (7)

   Unknown

2 (7)

Duration of HIV-infection prior to AIDS: mean; median (range) months

38.6; 32.0 (0–118)

AIDS-defining disease

 

   Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

16 (55)

   PCNSL

6 (21)

   Tuberculosis

1 (3)

   Cytomegalovirus infection

1 (3)

   Kaposis sarcoma

2 (7)

   Candida esophagitis

3 (10)

Duration of AIDS prior to PCNSL: mean; median (range) months

19.1; 15.0 (0–81)

Age at diagnosis of PCNSL: mean; median (range) years

39.0; 37.9 (24–54)

Symptoms on admission

 

   Focal neurological

11 (38)

   Personality change

14 (48)

   Cerebellar symptoms/vertigo

10 (35)

   Headache

10 (35)

   Visual disturbance

6 (21)

   Epilepsy

8 (28)

Performance status on admission

 

   WHO PS 0–1

8 (28)

   WHO PS 2–4

21 (72)

CD4 lymphocyte count (cells/μL): mean; median (range) (n = 24)a

26.6; 10.0 (0–190)

Lesions on CT/MR according to imaging report

 

   No focal lesion

4 (14)

   Single

8 (28)

   Multiple

17 (59)

Lesions on CT/MR at review (in 14 patients)

 

   Mean; median (range) number of lesions per patient

2.6; 2.0 (0–7)

   Supratentorial involvement

14 (100)

Lobes

11 (79)

Deep structures

8 (57)

   Posterior fossa involvement

2 (14)

   Mean; median (range) size (diameter in mm) of lesions (n = 37)

24.2; 23.0 (6–55)

Treatment received

 

   Steroid medication

11 (38)

   Radiotherapyb

2 (7)

   HAART

4 (14)

   Toxoplasma therapyc

20 (69)

  1. PCNSL = primary central nervous system lymphoma; WHO PS = World Health Organization performance status; CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; HAART = highly active antiretroviral therapy.
  2. aCD4 lymphocyte count at time of first symptom attributable to PCNSL.
  3. bWhole brain radiation was given to 2 patients diagnosed with PCNSL while alive (24 Gy in 8 fractions to one patient and 30 Gy in 10 fractions to one).
  4. cOnly 2 patients had favourable clinical and radiological response.