Mixed carcinomatous neuropathy in patients with lung cancer and lymphoma.
A clinical, electrophysiological and histological study of the peripheral nerve was performed on 62 patients with lung cancer and 30 patients with lymphoma. There was a mild peripheral neuropathy (MPN) in 17.7% of patients with lung cancer and in 10% of those with lymphoma. MPN was related to the degree of weight loss. Histological studies of 5 patients with MPN demonstrated a loss of large myelinated fibers in all patients, axonal degeneration in 2 and remyelination in 3 patients. Electromyographic and histological findings indicate a primary axonal neuropathy with remyelination, probably secondary to axonal damage. 2 patients with lymphoma developed a severe neuropathy that remitted in 1 patient. The main pathological abnormality was segmental demyelination in both cases. Immunofluorescence studies were negative in all cases with mild or severe neuropathy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology