[An autopsied case of intravascular malignant lymphomatosis with paraparesis, that presented a leukoencephalopathy-like image after spinal cord biopsy].

: A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized because of paraparesis, sensory disturbance of the lower extremities, and dysuria. Laboratory data included an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 16 mm/h and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level of 459 IU/l. Myelogram showed an enlarged spinal cord at the L1 level, and spinal MRI revealed a high signal area on T2-weighted images. Spinal cord biopsy by thoraco-lumbar laminectomy showed thickening of the pia mater and neovascularization, but no malignant cells. Immediately after the operation, the patient displayed progressive mental deterioration. Cranial MRI showed widespread high signal areas in the cerebral white matter on T2-weighted images which resembled those of leukoencephalopathy. Steroid therapy was tried but was ineffective. Ten months after the onset of symptoms, a brief period of regression of both clinical symptoms and MRI appearances occurred following the administration of Inosiplex, subsequent progressive deterioration led to death 14 months after the onset of symptoms. LDH, C-reactive protein (CRP), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein were all elevated during the deterioration of her general status. Postmortem examination revealed a large tumor mass of the left adrenal gland which extended to the Th12, L1, and L2 vertebrae and remarkable brain edema. Microscopic mononuclear tumor cells were widespread but confined to the lumens of small vessels of the brain, spinal cord, spinal root and right adrenal gland, almost as if they were occluded. Cerebral white matter presented widespread multiple small infarcts and extensive myelin thinning. In addition to the left adrenal gland, interstitial invasions of tumor cells were discovered in the kidneys, iliopsoas muscles, oviducts, myocardium, lymph nodes, and thyroid gland.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)