[Tolosa-Hunt syndrome revealing Burkitt lymphoma in an HIV-seropositive patient]

Presse Med. 2003 Sep 6;32(28):1319-22.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Tolosa-Hunt's syndrome is characterised by a painful, uni or bilateral, recurrent ophthalmoplegia, involving one or several ocular motor nerves. It is secondary to non-specific granulomatous infiltration of the cavernous sinus. It regresses rapidly with systemic corticosteroid therapy. Lymphomas involving the cavernous sinus may mimic a Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and hence delay diagnosis.

Observation: A 39 year-old HIV-seropositive male consulted for a painful ophthalmoplegia revealing a generalised Burkitt lymphoma evoking Tolosa-Hunts' syndrome. The outcome was unfavourable.

Conclusion: When confronted with a clinical picture evoking Tolosa-Hunt's syndrome, thorough examination is required to eliminate the localisation of a lymphoma or meningioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow Examination
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / complications*
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / therapy
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Escherichia coli Infections / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • HIV Seropositivity / blood
  • HIV Seropositivity / complications*
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Pain / etiology
  • Shock, Septic / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / complications*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Cord Neoplasms / therapy
  • Steroids
  • Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vomiting / etiology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Steroids