title: [Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. A case report].
abstract: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is a rare remote effect of ovarian and breast carcinoma especially, and is characterised clinically by rapidly evolving pancerebellar symptoms. A woman aged 83 developed progressive vertigo, cerebellar ataxia, nystagmus and dysarthria. The cerebrospinal fluid showed slight mononuclear pleocytosis, elevated total protein and IgG concentrations, and oligoclonal bands. A magnetic resonance investigation performed within the first month of symptoms was normal. A left pelvic mass was found, possibly a carcinoma of the colon or the left ovary. Cancer antigen 125 was elevated in the serum and antibodies against Purkinje cells (anti-Yo antibodies) were demonstrated in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. These results suggested a carcinoma of the ovary as primary site of cancer. Autopsy revealed a left ovarian adenocarcinoma and marked loss of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. The case illustrates that anti-Yo antibodies may serve as a marker not only for paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, but also for the nature of the neoplasm that caused it.
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Sykehus, Bergen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Storstein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vedeler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krossnes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mørk
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor