Neurological manifestations of Burkitt's lymphoma in Ghana.

Abstract

Over a period of 2 1/4 years, 75 patients with histologically confirmed Burkitt's lymphoma were evaluated at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. 25 patients (33%) presented or developed evidence of central nervous system involvement. Neurological abnormalities included paraplegia, cranial neuropathy, peripheral and root neuropathy, headaches and altered consciousness. Malignant pleocytosis was present or subsequently developed in twenty four patients. Intrathecal methotrexate transiently reversed the malignant pleocytosis, without influencing the ultimate course of the disease appreciably in most of the patients. Survival among these 25 patients was poor compared to patients who did not develop CNS involvement.