A Rare Manifestation of a Rare Disease: Mantle Cell Lymphoma Presenting With Aseptic Meningitis

Abstract

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by clonal proliferation of follicular mantle zone B lymphocytes. It is caused by abnormal chromosomal translocation t(11;14) resulting in aberrant expression of cyclin D1. This leads to activation of anti-apoptotic pathways and abnormal proliferation of MCL cells. Patients can present with an indolent course or a fulminant disease with short overall survival. The disease frequently involves extranodal organs, but rarely manifests with neurological symptoms. We report a rare case of aberrant CD5-negative MCL presenting with aseptic meningitis.

Unusual neurological presentations resulting in diagnosis of lymphoma in three patients

“…A variety of neurological complications are associated with lymphoma that can variably arise at different stages of malignancy and in different locations of the nervous system. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The mechanisms underlying the nervous system involvement are diverse, including direct lymphomatous invasion of the central nervous system parenchyma or peripheral nerves, paraneoplastic/immune-mediated damage, demyelination, vascular dysfunction, therapeutic intervention related neurotoxicity, metabolic derangement, and opportunistic infection. 7,[9][10][11] The existing diversity in the underlying mechanisms, the difference in timing of occurrence, and the heterogeneity in involved location often render the diagnosis of lymphoma difficult.…”