Dysfunction of the third cranial nerve can be provoked by a number of different conditions. An isolated cranial neuropathy as a first clinical sign of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma is very infrequent. We represent here an atypical case of lymphoblastic lymphoma revealed by an isolated third cranial nerve palsy. The patient was managed by alternating cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. She made a full recovery with a complete resolution of the symptomatology.
BaehringJMBatchelorTT.Diagnosis and management of neurolymphomatosis. Cancer J2012; 18: 463–468.
4.
ShreeRGoyalMKModiM, et al. The diagnostic dilemma of neurolymphomatosis. J Clin Neurol2016; 12(3): 274–281.
5.
BravermanS.Reticulum cell sarcoma of septum pellucidum: unusual case of third nerve paralysis presenting to the ophthalmologist. Arch Ophthalmol1967; 78: 738–739.
6.
MillerNR.Solitary oculomotor nerve palsy in childhood. Am J Ophthalmol1977; 83(1): 106–111.
7.
WilkinsDESamhouriAM.Isolated bilateral oculomotor paresis due to lymphoma. Neurology1979; 29(10): 1425–1428.
8.
MitsumotoHSweeneyP.Oculomotor palsy from malignant lymphoma. Cleve Clin Q1980; 47: 333–338.
9.
TeohRBarnardROGautier-SmithPC.Polyneuritis cranialis as a presentation of malignant lymphoma. J Neurol Sci1980; 48(3): 399–412.
10.
JackMKSmithTCollierAC.Oculomotor cranial nerve palsy associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Ann Ophthalmol1984; 16: 460–462.
11.
GalettaSLSergottRCWellsGB, et al. Spontaneous remission of a third nerve palsy in meningeal lymphoma. Ann Neurol1992; 32(1): 100–102.
12.
BergerJRFlasterMSchatzN, et al. Cranial neuropathy heralding otherwise occult AIDS-related large cell lymphoma. J Clin Neuroophthalmol1993; 13(2): 113–118.
13.
KajiyaYNakajoMKajiyaY, et al. Oculomotor nerve invasion by lymphoma demonstrated by MRI. J Comput Assist Tomogr1995; 19(3): 502–504.
14.
ManabeYKurokawaKKashiharaK, et al. Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy in lymphoma. Neurol Res2000; 22: 347–348.
15.
BhattiMTSchmalfussIMEskinTA.Isolated cranial nerve III palsy as the presenting manifestation of HIV-related large B-cell lymphoma: clinical, radiological and postmortem observations: report of a case and review of the literature. Surv Ophthalmol2005; 50(6): 598–606.
16.
LevyJKratzALifshitzT.Burkitt’s lymphoma presenting as oculomotor palsy in an HIV-positive patient. Eur J Ophthalmol2006; 16(1): 186–189.
17.
ParkYMChoJHChoJY, et al. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the sphenoid sinus presenting as isolated oculomotor nerve palsy. World J Surg Oncol2007; 5: 86.
18.
ChenCSMillerNRLaneA, et al. Third cranial nerve palsy caused by intracranial extension of a sino-orbital natural killer T-cell lymphoma. J Neuroophthalmol2008; 28(1): 31–35.
19.
SatoHHashimotoTYonedaS, et al. Lymphoma as a cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy. J Clin Neurosci2011; 18(9): 1256–1258.
20.
VermaRDhamijaRLeeburgWT, et al. Burkitt lymphoma presenting as ptosis in a man with human immunodeficiency virus. Am J Med Sci2011; 342(5): 427–428.
21.
TsaiCHLeeEJLiuYS, et al. Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy caused by diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Acta Neurol Belg2013; 113(1): 103–104.
22.
MeirelesJGarrettMCAbreuP.Isolated III cranial nerve palsy: a Hodgkin’s lymphoma. BMJ Case Rep2014; 2014: bcr2014203999.
23.
TagaARussoMFlorindoI, et al. Isolated third cranial nerve palsy leading to the diagnosis of disseminated Burkitt lymphoma. Neurologist2017; 22(5): 182–185.
24.
SinghSKLeedsNEGinsbergLE.MR imaging of leptomeningeal metastases: comparison of three sequences. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol2002; 23: 817–821.
25.
ChoHYoonY. Rapidly developing cotton-wool spots as the first manifestation of systemic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Retina2003; 23(6): 877–879.
