Neurológia pre prax 2/2012

Cranial neuropathy in a patient with Burkitt lymphoma infiltrating the cauda equina

Burkitt lymphoma is a high grade B-cell hemathologic malignity and a subtype of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma is a rare syndrome, characterized by lymphomatous meningeal infiltration with no evidence of either systemic lymphoma or parenchymal central nervous system lymphoma. Malignant cells are found in the cerebrospinal fluid, within and around the meninges only, with no invasion of parenchymal tissue. The infiltration affects also peripheral and cranial nerves or spinal roots. Polyneuropathic syndrome is a common clinical manifestation of the disease. Nevertheless, the secondary metastatic invasion of the parenchymal central nervous system is possible.

Keywords: Burkitt’s lymphoma, primary leptomeningeal lymphoma, polyneuropathy syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid, cranial neuropathy.