Paraneoplastic polyarteritis nodosa with cerebral masses: case report and literature review

Int J Rheum Dis. 2014 Sep;17(7):805-9. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.12377. Epub 2014 May 27.

Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) as a paraneoplastic vasculitis is rarely described, especially in association with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Furthermore, only 5% of all PAN patients have central nervous system (CNS) involvement, almost exclusively in the form of cerebral infarction or intracerebral haemorrhage. We report the first case of PAN with multiple immunosuppressant-responsive, cerebral vasculitic lesions in association with metastatic SCC.

Keywords: cerebral lesions; paraneoplastic polyarteritis nodosa; paraneoplastic vasculitis; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa / diagnosis
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa / drug therapy
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa / etiology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / drug therapy
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / etiology*
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents