Brachial plexus infiltration by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

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Abstract
The neurological complications of lymphoma include the effects of local deposits in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves; disorders of obscure origin such as encephalomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy and polymyositis as well as opportunistic infections such as progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy and herpes zoster (McLeod & Walsh, 1984). Lesions at the level of the brachial plexus are relatively uncommon and usually the result of compression by adjacent lymph nodes (Williams et al, 1959; Van Echo et al, 1973; Henson & Urich, 1982). A case is described of non- Hodgkin's lymphoma directly infiltrating the brachial plexus without adjacent lymphadenopathy, as demonstrated by a gallium scan which outlined a segment of increased uptake along the course of the brachial plexus. Although direct infiltration of spinal roots and peripheral nerves by malignant lymphomatous cells is well recognised, we have been unable to find a previously documented case of isolated lymphomatous brachial plexus infiltration demonstrated by gallium scan.