Conventional MRI and 1H MR spectroscopy in primary central nervous system lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare tumor with a rising incidence in immunocompetent elderly and immunocompromised patients. The early diagnosis is important for quick initiation of appropriate treatment, although the clinical and radiological findings are frequently misleading. With the present case we show the usefulness of combining conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) for the confirmation of the diagnosis in an immunocompetent patient; in the absence of a “gold standard criteria for the diagnosis” both procedures are necessary and complementary investigations.