title: Guillain-Barré Syndrome as First Presentation of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
abstract: We present a woman referred with underlying non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) masquerading clinically with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) like syndrome. At first evaluation, chest CT-Scan along with brain and whole spine MRI were normal. Electrodiagnostic studies were in favor of acute generalized polyradiculoneuropathy. Laboratory evaluation revealed hypoglycorrhachia. She treated with plasmapheresis after two weeks; she was discharged from hospital, but neurological recovery was not complete. After 6 months, she came back with acute onset of weakness in lower limbs, back pain, fever and urinary incontinence. Pinprick and light touch complete sensory loss was found beneath umbilicus. Thoracic MRI with contrast revealed a dorsal epidural mass extending smoothly from T8 to T12 (10 cm) with spinal cord compression. She underwent urgent laminectomy for spinal cord decompression. Histological examination revealed small round cell tumor suggestive of malignant T-cell type lymphoma. In cases with Guillain-Barré syndrome presentation, systemic hematologic disorders such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of underlying disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolhassan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ertiaei
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Injury Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghajarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azizollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taffakhori
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahaaddin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siroos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esfandbod
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. AND Brain and Spinal Injury Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hooshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saberi
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Polyradiculopathy