paraneoplastic subacute sensory neuronopathy

Etiology

• mediator: unknown
• associated neoplasms: lung, especially small cell

Pathology

• inflammation & dorsal root degeneration in dorsal root ganglia
• secondary axonal loss

Clinical manifestations

• evolution over weeks to months
• may precede other manifestations of malignancy
• severe sensory loss with areflexia & ataxia
• paresthesias, pain
• ataxia
• may be purely painful or purely ataxic

Laboratory

• anti-Hu antibodies (50%)
• nerve biopsy

Diagnostic procedures

• nerve conduction studies

More general terms

• paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome