title: Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy and autoantibody production in small-cell carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: A 59-year-old woman presented with acute-onset, bilateral, painless loss of vision, dysarthria, and ataxia. Ophthalmoscopy showed bilateral optic disc edema. A magnetic resonance scan of the head was normal. Chest radiography showed mediastinal adenopathy. Mediastinoscopy and biopsy identified small-cell carcinoma of the lung. An autoantibody to optic nerve and retina was demonstrated in the patient's serum. An electroretinogram was normal. The patient was diagnosed with a paraneoplastic optic neuropathy and paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome. After treatment for her lung cancer, the patient remains stable from a visual and neurologic standpoint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Luiz
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keltner
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Thirkill
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000276:immunology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies