Introduction: The Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare subtype of lymphoma confined to brain, eyes an leptomeninges. It has an aggressive course and the therapeutic targets are limited.

Objectives: To assess the percentage of PCNSL diagnosed by a brain biopsy, and evaluate the survival rate with treatment.

Material and methods: Is a retrospective and descriptive study of the cases of PCNSL diagnosed with a brain biopsy, in the neurosurgery department of the Puerta del Mar University Hospital during the period between 2000-2014. The variables recorded were age, gender, HIV and or HCV serology, symptoms, brain lesions localization, MRI features, effect of steroids use, other extension studies (for example cytology, flow cytometry, CSF B2-microglobulin and LDH), pathology results and treatment applied.

Results: Of the 11 cases analyzed, 2 died in less than 1 month after the diagnosis, although they have started the chemotherapy. In most of the cases the cytology and flow cytometry were normal. A high percentage of the patients presented with a focal neurological deficit. The MRI features were similar in all cases. Not all responded to the treatment with steroids, neither with chemotherapy.

Conclusions: In our area the incidence of PCNSL is similar to that described in most of the published literature. There is a tendency to improved survival in patients with suspicion of another etiology in which excision of the lesion was done.