Chronic cough as a presenting feature of cerebral lymphoma.

Abstract

We report a rare case of chronic cough as the presenting symptom of a primary brainstem lesion. A 69-year-old gentleman presented with chronic cough followed by onset of progressive truncal ataxia, incoordination and nystagmus. Contrast-enhanced imaging showed a midbrain lesion extending into the cerebellum, confirmed as lymphoma by stereotactic brain biopsy. The patient was successfully treated with chemotherapy, but his cough persists. We present this case to highlight the possibility of a brainstem lesion as a rare central cause of chronic cough, and suggest that the diagnosis is considered in those with concomitant neurological symptoms.

• Authors: Stephen P Williams, Mahmood F Bhutta
• Journal: Journal of surgical case reports (J Surg Case Rep) Vol. 2014 Issue 10 (Oct 24 2014) ISSN: 2042-8812 [Print] England
• PMID: 25344556 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. © The Author 2014.