Motor neuron disease with selective degeneration of anterior horn cells associated with non-hodgkin lymphoma

Introduction: We describe an autopsy-confirmed case of motor neuron disease with selective degeneration of the anterior horn cells associated with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Methods: Case report, including extensive autopsy studies. Results: The patient developed severe fasciculations and then progressive atrophy and weakness several months after the diagnosis and initial treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As the disease progressed, needle electromyography showed diffuse severe denervation changes including thoracic paraspinal muscles. Autopsy showed severe loss of anterior horn cells with associated gliosis and preservation of cortical spinal tracts and Betz cells.

Conclusions: This case provides an autopsy evidence of severe anterior horn cell degeneration in the course of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, raising the possibility that the neurologic syndrome, characterized by lowermotor neuron disease, may represent a paraneoplastic process. Similar cases have been reported previously.