Epilepsia partialis continua: a new manifestation of anti-Hu-associated paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis.
We report on 3 anti-Hu-positive patients who presented with clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features of epilepsia partialis continua (EPC). Two of the patients had an associated small cell carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed a hyperintense nonenhancing focal lesion in T2-weighted images in the sensorimotor area in 2 patients. Histopathological analysis of the lesion revealed inflammatory infiltrates and neuronal cell loss. In the patient who had a postmortem study, these neuropathological changes were not observed in other areas of the nervous system. This study emphasizes that the possibility of an anti-Hu-associated paraneoplastic disorder must be considered in patients with cortical encephalitis presenting with EPC when a brain tumor can be excluded.
Shavit
Y B
YB
Department of Neurology, Univesity Hospital, Basel Switzerland.
Graus
F
F
Probst
A
A
Rene
R
R
Steck
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D017036:Epilepsia Partialis Continua / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*