NMDAR-Antibody Encephalitis Diagnosed With Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Case Series

Abstract

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-antibody encephalitis (NMDAR encephalitis) is one of the most common forms of autoimmune encephalitis, with a paraneoplastic relationship described in approximately 38%. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare hematologic malignancy that is not often considered as the underlying neoplasm in this autoimmune disease. We report three cases of suspected NMDAR encephalitis diagnosed in the context of PCNSL. Our cases highlight clinical features to suspect the coexistence of these two rare conditions and demonstrate the potential role PCNSL can play as the paraneoplastic source condition.