Presentation of intravascular lymphomatosis as lumbosacral polyradiculopathy

• Published in: Muscle & nerve Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 1295 - 1300
• Main Authors: Viali, Satu, Hutchinson, David O., Hawkins, Timothy E., Croxson, Margaret C., Thomas, Mark, Allen, Jonathan P., Thomas, Stephen M., Powell, Kevin H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-08-2000; Wiley
• Subjects: angiotropic large‐cell lymphoma; Biological and medical sciences; cauda equina syndrome; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Diagnosis, Differential; Fatal Outcome; hemophagocytosis; Herpesviridae Infections - diagnosis; Herpesvirus 6, Human; human herpesvirus‐6; Humans; intravascular lymphomatosis; Lumbosacral Region; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - complications; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - diagnosis; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - virology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Pancytopenia - diagnosis; polyradiculopathy; Polyradiculopathy - diagnosis; Polyradiculopathy - etiology; Polyradiculopathy - virology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Radicular syndrome; Herpesviridae; Intravascular space; Large cell lymphoma; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Virus; Infection; Vascular disease; Electrodiagnosis; Herpesvirus hominis 6; Lumbosacral
• ISSN: 0148-639X; 1097-4598
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-4598(200008)23:8<1295::AID-MUS24>3.0.CO;2-E

A 53‐year‐old man developed progressive sensory disturbance and weakness in the legs, sphincter disturbance, back pain, systemic symptoms, and pancytopenia. Electrophysiological tests indicated a widespread lumbosacral polyradiculopathy. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging and routine cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed minor nonspecific abnormalities. Bone marrow and liver biopsies showed hemophagocytosis; and polymerase chain reaction of cerebrospinal fluid, bone marrow, and serum suggested active infection with human herpesvirus‐6. Autopsy revealed that his neurological symptoms resulted from intravascular lymphomatosis (angiotropic large cell lymphoma), a rare variant of lymphoma with predilection for the nervous system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 1295–1300, 2000.