Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as oculomotor palsy in an hiv-positive patient.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) in an HIV-positive patient presenting as complete third nerve palsy.


METHODS
Interventional case report. A 34-year-old man presented with headache, left eye pain, diplopia, and complete ptosis of several hours' duration. Left eye examination disclosed complete third nerve palsy with pupillary involvement. Significant hepatomegalia was noted at physical examination and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed multiple solid lesions.


RESULTS
Liver biopsy was consistent with Burkitt's lymphoma. Bone marrow biopsy was normal. Brain imaging was normal. Work-up also revealed positivity for human immunodeficiency virus. Chemotherapy treatment was started. Two months later, ocular motility examination was normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Although BL affects the central nervous system very rarely, BL should be considered in any immunosuppressed patient presenting with diplopia or ophthalmoparesis.
Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. ljaime@bgu.ac.il
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Levy
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Kratz
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Lifshitz
D000328:Adult; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019562:Viral Load
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003561:Cytarabine; D008727:Methotrexate