# A Rare Manifestation of a Rare Disease: Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma Presenting As Paraneoplastic Aseptic Meningitis

**Authors:** Aishwarya Saripalli, Elaine Deemer, Kasey Fox

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.86327 · Cureus · 2025-06-18

## TL;DR

A rare case of a rare lymphoma presented as a meningitis-like condition, which improved after cancer treatment.

## Contribution

Reports a rare paraneoplastic manifestation of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma as aseptic meningitis.

## Key findings

- NLPHL can present with paraneoplastic aseptic meningitis without malignant cells in the CSF.
- Symptoms resolved following cancer treatment, supporting a paraneoplastic mechanism.
- Central nervous system involvement in NLPHL is uncommon and often atypical.

## Abstract

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon form of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). It commonly presents as chronic, asymptomatic, slow-growing peripheral lymphadenopathy. Central nervous system involvement in NLPHL is rare.

Here we report a case of a 28-year-old male patient who presented with a seven-week history of headache and neck pain. The evaluation revealed a diagnosis of subacute meningitis. He was newly diagnosed with NLPHL on lymph node biopsy. With this presentation of subacute aseptic meningitis with a negative workup for infectious, autoimmune etiology, and absence of malignant cells in the CSF, in the setting of newly diagnosed NLPHL, a diagnosis of paraneoplastic aseptic meningitis was made. The patient improved symptomatically with the treatment of his cancer.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (MONDO:0019478), Hodgkin lymphoma (MONDO:0004952), aseptic meningitis (MONDO:0006662)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** neck pain (MESH:D019547), lymphadenopathy (MESH:D008206), headache (MESH:D006261), cancer (MESH:D009369), Central nervous system involvement (MESH:C538190), HL (MESH:D006689), Paraneoplastic Aseptic Meningitis (MESH:D008582), meningitis (MESH:D008580)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## References

10 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12177434/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12177434