[Human peripheral neurolymphomatosis (reticuloendothelial polyradiculoneuritis)]

Abstract

This is the clinico-pathological report of a case of reticulo-endotheliosis of the nervous system in a 53-year-old white female. She had a history of transient facial palsy followed 6 months later by progressive weakness, paresthesiae and severe pain in both lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed signs of sensory and motor polyradiculoneuritis with involvement of the oculomotor, facial and trigeminal cranial nerves. She died 10 months after the onset because of bronchopneumonia. Pathological findings in the nervous system were limited to the cranial and spinal roots and ganglia. Histopathological examination showed intense infiltration by lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasmocytes and macrophages and a large amount of reticulin. The left oculomotor nerve, both Gasserian ganglia, the right trigeminal nerve and the lumbosacral nerves and ganglia were particularly involved. The previous literature on human peripheral neurolymphomatosis is reviewed and its differential diagnosis from Marek's disease, sarcomas, leukaemic polyradiculoneuritis, sarcoidosis and Hodgkin's disease of the nervous system is discussed. The importance of recognizing this variety of polyradiculoneuritis, and methods of treating it are emphasized.