A standard of care for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has not been defined. Current controversies concern, amongst others, the role, dose and timing of radiotherapy, the role of intrathecal chemotherapy and the delineation of age-specific standards of care. Given the strong clinical trial activities for PCNSL in Germany, the PCNSL conference held in Tubingen aimed at comparing the diverging trial strategies in Germany and at exploring the options for joint activities of the various PCNSL study groups in the near future.