Peripheral neurolymphomatosis with tracheal asphyxia: a case report and literature review

BMC Neurol. 2015 Aug 23:15:149. doi: 10.1186/s12883-015-0405-2.

Abstract

Background: Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is an extremely rare disease and tracheal asphyxia due to NL has not been previously reported.

Case presentation: A 54-year-old Chinese woman with a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in her first complete remission developed peripheral neuropathy and tracheal asphyxia. Neurolymphomatosis involving the right brachial plexus and the right vagus nerve was demonstrated by PET/CT, but not by MRI. She underwent urgent tracheotomy and impact chemotherapy using rituximab combined with high dose methotrexate and involved field radiotherapy. She achieved a second complete remission.

Conclusion: PET/CT plays valuable role in differentiating NL from other neuropathies in patients with lymphoma. Complete remission can be achieved in NL due to large B-cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asphyxia / diagnosis
  • Asphyxia / etiology*
  • Asphyxia / surgery
  • Brachial Plexus / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / therapy
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / complications*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / secondary
  • Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / therapy
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiotherapy
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tracheal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Tracheal Diseases / etiology*
  • Tracheal Diseases / surgery
  • Tracheotomy
  • Vagus Nerve / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Rituximab
  • Methotrexate