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COVID-19 associated Bell’s Palsy and lumbosacral neurolymphomatosis in a patient with B-cell lymphoma—Case Report

Spinal Cord Series and Cases volume 9, Article number: 21 (2023) Cite this article

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Abstract

This is a case of acute onset unilateral Bell’s Palsy during COVID-19 illness, coinciding with development of progressive leg pain, weakness, and sensation change. The patient was ultimately found to have a large B-cell lymphoma mass invading the sciatic nerve, lumbosacral plexus and the spinal canal with compression of cauda equina consistent with neurolymphomatosis. Although COVID-19 infection has been associated with Bell’s palsy, Bell’s palsy has also been reported with lymphoid malignancy. We review current literature on the association of Bell’s palsy with COVID-19 infection and lymphoid malignancy, as well as review the diagnostic challenges of neurolymphomatosis. Providers should be aware of the possible association of Bell’s palsy as harbinger of lymphoid malignancy.

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Fig. 1: Pelvic MRI without contrast T1 coronal (left) and axial (middle) showing mass measuring 11 × 9 × 8 cm infiltrating the lower lumbosacral plexus, sciatic nerve and surrounding pelvic and gluteal musculature.

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  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA

    Sharon Ong & Ziva Petrin

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  1. Sharon Ong
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  2. Ziva Petrin
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ZP contributed to idea, patient work-up and evaluation, initial write-up, editing and final submission, SO contributed to chart review, literature review, write-up, creation of figure and table, editing and final submission.

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Correspondence to Sharon Ong.

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Ong, S., Petrin, Z. COVID-19 associated Bell’s Palsy and lumbosacral neurolymphomatosis in a patient with B-cell lymphoma—Case Report. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 9, 21 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00580-8

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