When Nerves Speak Louder Than Words: Polyneuropathy and Multisystem Involvement in a Teenager
POEMS syndrome is a rare plasma cell disorder that is characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes, most commonly affecting middle-aged men. Due to its rarity and clinical overlap with other conditions, diagnosis relies on established mandatory, major, and minor criteria. We report a case of POEMS syndrome in a 17-year-old female. This case contributes to the limited literature on pediatric and adolescent presentations of POEMS syndrome and underscores clinical features that may aid in earlier recognition and diagnosis.
Authors
- Casey McCaffrey
- Christina Chen
- Courtney S. Pugh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9151-794X)
Institutions
- Rush University Medical Center (US)
- Rush Children's Hospital (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
- Published
- 2026-05-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/21565333261451817
- Primary Topic
- Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00