title: Negative-antibody paraneoplastic syndrome complicating small cell carcinoma.
abstract: The neurological paraneoplastic syndromes represent nonmetastatic complications of cancer and may affect several levels of the nervous system. They are thought to be immunologically-mediated. The syndrome predates the diagnosis of cancer by months to years in two thirds of cases. We report the case of a female patient presenting with a cerebellar syndrome and a sensory neuronopathy on a background of severe weight loss. We searched for occult malignancy and later diagnosed her to be suffering from a paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Paraneoplastic antibodies were negative. She was subsequently treated with chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ward 23a, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. mefarrug@tinyonline.co.uk
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Farrugia
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm