Paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. Dramatic response to chemotherapy alone.

Abstract

Neurologic paraneoplastic syndromes are usually a debilitating and untreatable manifestation of malignancy. The case is presented of a woman with severe paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis that was characterized predominantly by cerebellar degeneration associated with small cell lung cancer, both of which responded rapidly to cytotoxic chemotherapy alone. She is alive with some neurologic residua but no signs of recurrent cancer more than 2 years after diagnosis. Recommendations for aggressive management of this rare but disabling syndrome are outlined.

• Authors: O A Batson, D M Fantle, J A Stewart
• Journal: Cancer (Cancer) Vol. 69 Issue 5 Pg. 1291-3 (Mar 01 1992) ISSN: 0008-543X [Print] United States
• PMID: 1310891 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Doxorubicin
• Cyclophosphamide

Topics

• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Atrophy (diagnosis)
• Carcinoma, Small Cell (drug therapy)
• Cerebellum (pathology)
• Cyclophosphamide (administration & dosage)
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Encephalomyelitis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Paraneoplastic Syndromes (drug therapy)