Facial palsy as a first sign of an underlying leukaemia in children

Abstract

Facial palsy is not uncommon in children and usually carries a good prognosis for the idiopathic variety. However, it can be a presenting symptom of an underlying malignancy. We report two young girls who presented with unilateral facial palsy and were initially diagnosed as a€˜Bell's palsy'. One child was treated with steroids and was readmitted two weeks later with pleural effusion and thrombocytopenia. Both had evidence of an underlying malignancy on the blood film and were diagnosed with Leukaemia. Young children presenting with facial palsy should be carefully examined and a possibility of leukaemia be considered.

Keywords

• Bell's Palsy, facial palsy, leukaemia, children