[Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration in Hodgkin's disease].
METHODS
A 30-year-old previously healthy man suddenly developed double vision, unsteady gait and some difficulty in speech articulation. Within 4 weeks he had become markedly ataxic, unable to walk, stand or sit down unaided. Neurological examination indicated a severe cerebellar syndrome. There were no other abnormal findings on physical examination.


METHODS
There was no pleocytosis and no oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A test for anti-Purkinje cell antibodies was negative in both CSF and serum. Computed tomography and nuclear magnetic imaging (NMI) of the brain were normal.


METHODS
As a para- or postinfectious or paraneoplastic process was suspected. I.v. immunoglobulin and oral corticosteroids were administered, but without improvement. 13 month later, a mediastinal mass was noted on a chest radiogram. This led to the diagnosis of a stage IA Hodgkin's disease. Retrospectively the cerebellar degeneration was most likely a paraneoplastic change related to the Hodgkin's disease. However, an independent second disease cannot be excluded. While the treatment of Hodgkin's disease was successful, the neurological symptoms remained unchanged. Severe cerebellar atrophy was demonstrated on NMI.


CONCLUSIONS
In case of cerebellar atrophy of undetermined aetiology a paraneoplastic cause should be considered and an underlying malignant disease looked for.
Benzing
T
T
Abteilungen Medizin IV, Medizinischen Universitätsklinik und Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Freiburg. benzing@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Rump
L C
LC
Kaiser
R
R
Peter
H H
HH
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000150:complications; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications*
Paraneoplastische Kleinhirndegeneration bei Morbus Hodgkin.