Symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma usually begin gradually and worsen over time. However, they can also occur suddenly and dramatically, as occurs in a stroke. Symptoms that the patient develops depend on the location of the tumors in the central nervous system (CNS). Central nervous system lymphoma is primarily confined to the brain, spinal cord and eye.

General symptoms of physical pressure to the brain from a tumor include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Lethargy and sleepiness
• Coma

Brain and spinal cord symptoms due to nerve damage include:

• Loss of specific functions
• Weakness or paralysis
• Loss of hearing or vision
• Coordination and task impairment
• Difficulty walking or speaking
• Swallowing problems (dysphagia)
• Thought and personality changes
• Seizures

Patients exhibiting these symptoms should consult their physician. The above symptoms may indicate any number of diseases, many less life-threatening than CNS lymphoma. Less than 1 percent of the above symptoms are caused by tumors in the central nervous system, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Ten percent of new onset seizures are caused by brain tumors.

A physician can prescribe diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the symptoms.