title: Extensive form of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy associated with laryngeal carcinoma.
abstract: A case is reported of the rare association between progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy and carcinoma. A 66-year-old man underwent a laryngectomy for carcinoma. Four years later he developed a local recurrence. Simultaneously there were behavioural disturbances and a left motor neglect followed by dense hemiplegia and coma. The patient died a further 5 months later. Anergy was demonstrated by skin tests. CT scan showed asymmetrical non-enhancing low-density areas in the hemispheric white matter, brain-stem and cerebellum and neuropathological examination confirmed extensive myelin loss with typical papovavirus inclusions in oligodendrocytes identified by electron microscopy.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed