Abstract
RATIONALE: High-grade B-cell lymphoma is highly malignant and progresses rapidly, often being at the intermediate or advanced stage with poor prognosis when detected. This disease involves the central nervous system in 9% to 45% of cases, while peripheral nerve injury is relatively rare. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 42-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to recurrent peripheral facial paralysis lasting for 8 months and weakness in both lower extremities lasting for 1 month. No other symptoms and signs were apparent. DIAGNOSES: Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed the following results: IgH/Bcl2 t(14:18)(q32;q21) chromosomal translocation: negative; Bc16 gene translocation: positive; and Myc(8;q24) chromosomal translocation: positive. The clonal gene rearrangement test for B-cell lymphoma was positive, and the clonal gene rearrangement test for T-cell lymphoma was negative.The patient was diagnosed with high-grade B-cell lymphoma. INTERVENTIONS: The treatment plan included chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy, etc. OUTCOMES: The patient who was followed up for 1 and 3 years had stable conditions and was able to take care of himself, with an mRS score of 1. Five years after the initial diagnosis, the patient experienced recurrence and systemic metastasis of high-grade B-cell lymphoma, ultimately dying from multiple organ failure. LESSONS: Lymphoma manifests mainly as progressive impairment of multiple cranial nerves or recurrent alternating peripheral nerve injury complicated with elevated protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid; it can be easily misdiagnosed as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Performing lymph node biopsy for high-grade B-cell lymphoma as early as possible helps detect lymphoma in the early stage.