Korean J Hematol.  2008 Dec;43(4):263-267. 10.5045/kjh.2008.43.4.263.

Gullain-barre Syndrome Associated with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
  • 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Pusan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. jyjeon@medimail.co.kr
  • 4Department of General Thorasic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.

Abstract

A 67-year-old man developed swelling of the right leg with inguinal and abdominal pain over a period of 5 days. Excisional biopsy of the left supraclavicular lymph nodes revealed the diffuse, large B cell type of malignant lymphoma. After chemotherapy, he complained of a tingling sensation and weakness in the left upper extremity, and then this progressed to quadriplegia. Electrodiagnostic testing demonstrated the characteristic findings of demyelination, which was consistent with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) leading to GBS, as was observed in the present case, suggests that physicians should be aware of GBS and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as the full spectrum of these diseaseshas not been fully defined.

Keyword

Guillain-barre syndrome; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Chemotherapy; Quadriplegia

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Aged
Biopsy
Demyelinating Diseases
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Humans
Leg
Lymph Nodes
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Quadriplegia
Sensation
Upper Extremity

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging findings demonstrating a swelling and enhancement in the 6th and 7th cervical nerve roots. (A) T1 weighted axial imaging. (B) Gadolinium enhanced T1 weighted axial imaging.


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