paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis sensory neuropathy

Etiology

• small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
• testicular cancer
• breast cancer

Pathology

• may result from an immune response primarily directed against a small cell lung tumor antigen which is misdirected against similar antigens expressed in brain

Clinical manifestations

• dementia
• sensory loss
• other neurological disabilities variable
  • peripheral neuropathy
  • myelitis
  • brainstem signs
  • cerebellar degeneration
  • limbic encephalitis

Laboratory

• serology:
  • ELAVL4/HuD autoantibodies
  • ANNA-1 Ab (anti-Hu) (SCLC)
  • anti-Ma Ab (anti-Ma2) (testicular cancer, breast cancer)

More general terms

• paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome
• autoimmune encephalomyelitis

More specific terms

• anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis; NMDAR Ab encephalitis