Gritsch, David

Introduction: Reversible cerebral vasonstriction syndrome (RCVS) is an increasingly recognized clinical and radiologic syndrome. However, it has been rarely reported in the setting of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection or sarcomatous tumors. RCVS might be the initial manifestations of COVID-19 infection or noncatecholamine producing masses including sarcoma. Case Report: A 44-year-old male who developed COVID-19–related symptoms followed by rapid onset of severe headaches in the setting of persistently elevated blood pressure (BP). Brain imaging showed multifocal arterial narrowing in the anterior and posterior circulation consistent with RCVS. Serial imaging demonstrated resolution of the arterial narrowing after BP control was achieved with improvement in the patient’s headaches. Further investigation for secondary causes of the patient’s elevated BP revealed a right renal mass, and the patient underwent right nephrectomy, and the biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of pleomorphic sarcoma. Conclusion: Our case suggests a possible association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 with development of RCVS, but further studies are needed to validate this observation, establish a causal relationship and define a pathophysiological mechanism. Considering tumors other than catecholamine-producing masses as a potential risk factor for developing RCVS might lead to earlier detection and treatment of any underlying malignancy in patients whom the main and sole presentation could be RCVS.

Background: High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) is a promising alternative to whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in the treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). The objective of this study was to critically assess current evidence supporting the use of HD-ASCT as first-line consolidative therapy in PCNSL. Methods: The objective was addressed through the development of a critically appraised topic that included a clinical scenario, structured question, literature search strategy, critical appraisal, assessment of results, evidence summary, commentary, and bottom-line conclusions. Participants included consultant and resident neurologists, a medical librarian, clinical epidemiologists, and a content expert in the field of neuro-oncology. Results: A recent, open-label, noncomparative randomized phase II trial was selected for critical appraisal. This trial evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of consolidative therapy with HD-ASCT and WBRT in PCNSL in 2 separate treatment arms. A total of 140 patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL between the ages of 18 and 60 years were included. The primary endpoint of 2-year progression-free survival was met in 63% of patients in the WBRT arm and 87% in the HD-ASCT arm. Notably, an overall improvement in neurocognitive scores was observed following HD-ASCT, while WBRT was associated with worsened cognitive outcomes. Conclusions: In young patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL, consolidative therapy with HD-ASCT appears to be associated with less neurocognitive toxicity and may be more effective than WBRT at preventing relapses, however, at the cost of a higher treatment-related mortality.