Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: a Unique Association

Cerebellum. 2019 Dec;18(6):1126-1129. doi: 10.1007/s12311-019-01045-1.

Abstract

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare disorder that is associated with lung or gynecological malignancies and Hodgkin lymphoma. Neurologic symptoms are commonly the initial presenting sign leading to the diagnosis of an underlying malignancy. We are presenting an Asian male with progressive lower extremity weakness with EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and anti-Yo antibodies. Peculiarly, transient diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement is seen on MR imaging. This is the first report of PCD associated with NPC and thus illustrates that PCD embodies a boarder set of disease than previously described.

Keywords: Anti-Yo; Autoimmune; Cancer; Cerebellar; Cerebellum; Leptomeningeal; Nasopharyngeal; Neurology; Oncology; Paraneoplastic; Syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / complications
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / therapy
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / complications
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / complications
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / diagnostic imaging*
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / therapy