Multiple Cranial Nerve Palsies in Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Involvement of cranial nerves is unspecific and can occur in inflammation, different types of nerve tumours and in malignancies. Central Nervous System (CNS) dissemination during the Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) is unusual. We report a rare case of a patient followed for mantle cell lymphoma, which brutally instituted multiple cranial nerve palsies, brain imaging showed a bilateral sphenoid sinusitis. Cytology later showed the presence of mantle cells in cerebrospinal fluid analysis. We review literature for the Central Nervous System involvement in Mantle cell lymphoma and we discuss possible change of therapeutic strategies. Although the cranial nerves involvement is extremely rare in Mantle cell Lymphoma, physicians should be aware of such patterns of Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement for the early diagnosis and adequate selection of treatment modality.