A case of rapidly progressive T cell type malignant lymphoma which started with multiple cranial neuropathy

A 35-year-old man had suffered from recurrent right trigeminal nerve palsy and flaccid paraparesis for about five months. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a marked increase of protein (400 mg/dl) and mononuclear cells (146/mm3), but there were no malignant cells. Antibiotic therapy remitted his inguinal and mediastinal lymph nodes swelling, and trigeminal nerve palsy had recovered spontaneously. Then he developed left trigeminal and facial nerve palsy, mononeuropathy multiplex, and cauda equina syndrome. Nerve conduction studies revealed delayed velocity and reduction of amplitude. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed increased signal intensity in bilateral trigeminal nerves, left internal auditory meatus, and meninges of the basal cistern. Also, there were two mass lesions in cauda equina. They were operated by orthopedist, and were not malignant. After that, CSF cells of malignant lymphoma were elevated and revealed T cell type (large cell). Then the patient exacerbated in bulbar palsy and died. When there is lymph node swelling with multiple neurological deficits, despite remission of lesions and signs, biopsies should be positively pursued early in the patient's clinical course.