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Vol.49 No.6 contents | Japanese/English |
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- Case Report -
Paraneoplastic Brainstem Encephalitis and Subacute Sensory Neuropathy Presenting Various Neurological Symptoms Associated with Small Cell Lung Cancer
Kyoko Kudo1, Miiru Izumi1, Koichi Takayama1, Satoru Fukuyama1, Kentaro Tanaka1, Yoichi Nakanishi11Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan
Background. Paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis and subacute sensory neuropathy are included in paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) and are rarely accompanied by small cell lung cancer. PNS is often difficult to diagnose or to treat them. Case. A 71 year-old man presented with syncope, diplopia, blepharoptosis and dysphagia and was admitted to our hospital. Brain MRI was normal. Chest CT showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The lymph node biopsy yielded a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (cT4N2M0, stage IIIB). And as for the neurological symptoms, the presence of a serum anti-Hu antibody supported the diagnosis of paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis and subacute sensory neuropathy. Platinum-based chemotherapy resulted in partial response but the neurological symptoms deteriorated. Conclusion. We reported a case of paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis and subacute sensory neuropathy accompanied by small cell lung cancer. There are various types of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome, and further studies for the treatment of each neurological symptom are required.
key words: Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS), Paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis, Subacute sensory neuropathy, Small cell lung cancer, Anti-Hu antibody
Received: January 7, 2009
Accepted: May 8, 2009
JJLC 49 (6): 852-856, 2009
