Clinical Reasoning: Progressive Peripheral Neuropathy in a 66-Year-Old Woman With Sezary Syndrome.

Abstract

Evaluating patients with neuropathy is common, especially in elderly patients with comorbidities. Neuropathy can often be a manifestation of systemic diseases, cancer, or drug-induced toxicity; thus, the differential diagnosis is challenging. The mechanism of nerve damage can vary significantly, affecting the patient's therapeutic management. We describe a 66-year-old woman who presented with subacute and progressively worsening motor weakness of the lower extremities with bilateral numbness and tingling after a recent respiratory tract infection. Her medical history included diabetes mellitus and Sezary syndrome in the context of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This case emphasizes the significance of a detailed evaluation and considering clinical signs and electrophysiologic findings in patients with neuropathy and a history of hematologic malignancy. Early recognition and management can be crucial in shaping the clinical course of the disease.