Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2022; 20(02): 113-114
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731398
Case Report

Burkitt Lymphoma Presenting as a Paraneoplastic Demyelinating Disorder in a Child

1   Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
,
Juhi Jain
1   Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
,
Kathryn Elkins
2   Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
,
Daniel John Bergsagel
1   Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

In adults, lymphomas have been associated with paraneoplastic syndromes that cause cranial nerve palsies, polyneuropathies, and paraplegias. These have been less frequently reported in children. We described a pediatric patient who initially presented with palsy of her left third cranial nerve and bilateral ptosis. Initial diagnosis was concerning for myasthenia gravis, but after additional diagnostic evaluation, she was found to have acute motor axonal neuropathy. Cerebrospinal fluid studies were consistent with a diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma. In this article, we discussed the importance of considering primary oncologic diagnoses in acute neurologic disorders with unusual presentations.



Publication History

Received: 03 February 2021

Accepted: 04 May 2021

Article published online:
26 June 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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