Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma of the lumbar spine.

This report describes primary leptomeningeal lymphoma (PLML) of the spine in a 58-year-old female. LML is rare, especially in the immunocompetent, and it is almost always secondary in origin. To our knowledge, there have been very few cases of PLML of the lumbar spine reported in the literature and even fewer reports using recent MR imaging (MRI) technology to aid with diagnosis. MRI is useful in differentiating CNS lesions and may be helpful in the diagnosis of this extremely rare primary lymphoma. PLML is briefly reviewed.