Successful treatment of subacute cerebellar degeneration in ovarian carcinoma with plasmapheresis. A case report.
Subacute cerebellar degeneration is a rare complication of some neoplasms, and is generally resistant to therapy. A case of subacute cerebellar degeneration in a 50-year-old woman with a Stage II grade 3 serous ovarian adenocarcinoma is reported. The onset of the neurologic symptoms preceded the diagnosis of cancer and progressively worsened during and after four cycles of chemotherapy. A quick, partial improvement of the neurologic syndrome was documented after three weekly treatments with plasmapheresis. The contribution of circulating factors in inducing subacute cerebellar degeneration can be postulated. A trial using this new type of treatment should be performed in patients who have this therapeutically refractory clinical condition.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010956:Plasmapheresis