Facial paralysis as a presenting symptom of leukemia.
Facial paralysis may occur as a complication of central nervous system leukemias in children, but it is rarely a presenting symptom. This report describes an 8-month-old child who presented with peripheral facial palsy, failure to thrive, anemia, and otitis media. Antibiotic and steroid treatment led to an improvement in the clinical condition, but not the paralysis. At readmission 3 weeks later, physical examination revealed bluish, firm, palpable masses on the scalp and facial areas, and laboratory and imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. This case should alert physicians to consider hematologic malignancies in children with facial paralysis.
Bilavsky
Efraim
E
Department of Pediatrics B, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Scheuerman
Oded
O
Marcus
Nofar
N
Hoffer
Vered
V
Garty
Ben Zion
BZ
D000208:Acute Disease; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy