Guillain-Barre Syndrome As First Presentation of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Pubmed



Ertiaei A¹ ; Ghajarzadeh M² ; Javdan A¹ ; Taffakhori A³ ; Siroos B³ ; Esfandbod M⁴ ; Saberi H^{1, 2} Show Affiliations
Source: Acta Medica Iranica Published:2016

Abstract

We present a woman referred with underlying non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) masquerading clinically with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) like syndrome. At first evaluation, chest CT-Scan along with brain and whole spine MRI were normal. Electrodiagnostic studies were in favor of acute generalized polyradiculoneuropathy. Laboratory evaluation revealed hypoglycorrhachia. She treated with plasmapheresis after two weeks; she was discharged from hospital, but neurological recovery was not complete. After 6 months, she came back with acute onset of weakness in lower limbs, back pain, fever and urinary incontinence. Pinprick and light touch complete sensory loss was found beneath umbilicus. Thoracic MRI with contrast revealed a dorsal epidural mass extending smoothly from T8 to T12 (10 cm) with spinal cord compression. She underwent urgent laminectomy for spinal cord decompression. Histological examination revealed small round cell tumor suggestive of malignant T-cell type lymphoma. In cases with Guillain-Barre syndrome presentation, systemic hematologic disorders such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of underlying disease. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.