How is lymphoma treated?
Historically, whole brain radiation has been the primary treatment since lymphoma involves the entire brain. Whole-brain radiation is an effective treatment with approximately 50 percent of patients showing a complete response. However, when whole brain radiation is not combined with other treatments, patients often relapse. Patients who survive long-term following whole brain radiation often encounter significant cognitive problems related to treatment. Today, chemotherapy is routinely used alone, or in conjunction with radiation to improve long-term outcome. The most common chemotherapy drug is methotrexate, which may be administered through intra-venous delivery, intra-arterial delivery or intra-ocular delivery. Chemotherapy also may be given directly into the cerebral spinal fluid through a reservoir (Ommya). All chemotherapy delivered into the body must cross the blood-brain barrier to obtain entrance into the cerebral spinal fluid, which limits the use of many chemotherapy drugs.
