Atypical occurrence of anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis after breast cancer surgery and COVID-19

Encephalitis. 2023 Jul;3(3):97-101. doi: 10.47936/encephalitis.2023.00080. Epub 2023 Jun 15.

Abstract

In this report, we present a rare case of anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis concurrent with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following breast cancer surgery. The patient exhibited minimal clinical symptoms of COVID-19 infection but developed seizures and altered mental status after surgery, leading to diagnosis of a classic paraneoplastic syndrome. This case highlights the possibility of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome even after cancer surgery and the need for careful consideration of post-acute infection syndromes when neurological symptoms occur following an infection.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms; COVID-19; Ma2 antigen; Limbic encephalitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports