Peripheral neurolymphomatosis with tracheal asphyxia: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is an extremely rare disease and tracheal asphyxia due to NL has not been previously reported. CASE PRESENTATION A 54-year-old Chinese woman with a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in her first complete remission developed peripheral neuropathy and tracheal asphyxia. Neurolymphomatosis involving the right brachial plexus and the right vagus nerve was demonstrated by PET/CT, but not by MRI. She underwent urgent tracheotomy and impact chemotherapy using rituximab combined with high dose methotrexate and involved field radiotherapy. She achieved a second complete remission. CONCLUSION PET/CT plays valuable role in differentiating NL from other neuropathies in patients with lymphoma. Complete remission can be achieved in NL due to large B-cell lymphoma.