Brain Involvement in Hodgkin’s Disease

Abstract
The case of a young girl with Hodgkin’s disease of 2 years duration is described. During her disease, headache, dizziness and blurred vision started. Papilledema and right homonymous hemianopsia were detected. EEG, echoencephalogram, brain scan and carotid arteriogram pointed to intracranial invasion by the disease. Therapeutic test with steroids brought to amelioration; therefore, subsequent skull irradiation and chemotherapy were given which improved her condition markedly. After a remission of 10 months, Jacksonian seizures and other neurological aberrations started. In spite of therapeutic efforts, the patient died shortly thereafter. The newer diagnostic procedures, in our opinion, enable the correct diagnosis of intracranial involvement in Hodgkin’s disease. In doubtful cases, therapeutic test with steroids, followed by chemotherapy and skull irradiation, are indicated, and surgery should be advised only if these measures fail.