title: Paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome associated with occult breast cancer: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: We report a case of occult breast cancer presenting as paraneoplastic sensory and motor neuropathy. The paraneoplastic antibody panel was negative and no other unknown identifiable antibody could be detected in the serum. Systemic treatment with four cycles of Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide was given with no significant improvement in the neurologic condition. We reviewed the literature of the last 10 years and identified 31 reported cases of paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome due to breast cancer. Paraneoplastic antibodies could be found in only 36% of patients, no identifiable antibodies in 32% of patients, and unknown antibodies in 16% of patients. The status of the paraneoplastic antibodies was not reported in 16% of patients. Only 29% of patients responded to chemotherapy with improvement in neurologic deficits. The role of systemic treatment in the progression of neurologic impairment is unclear.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University Hospital, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9162, USA. raltaha@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Altaha
authors.forename: Jame
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D020364:Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011859:Radiography; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide