Exclusion criteria were: lymphoma outside the CNS, HIV positivity,
inadequate bone marrow function, liver disease, creatinine clearance less than 60 mL / min, organ transplantation, prior radiotherapy to the brain, previous malignancy unless disease free for at least five years, pregnancy or lactation.
A patient receives intensive chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation therapy in an attempt to kill all cancerous cells, but which also destroy his / her
own bone marrow function.
These compounds may cause myelosuppression (
decreased bone marrow function); therefore, a complete blood count must be carefully monitored for cytopenia (reduced cell numbers) during therapy.