Small cell lung cancer associated with anti-Hu paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy and peripheral nerve microvasculitis: case report and literature review.
A 53-year-old man presented with an 8-week history of upper and lower limb paraesthesia. Neurological examination revealed a glove and stocking distribution of sensory loss. Sural nerve biopsy showed severe axonal neuropathy associated with microvasculitis. Positron-emission tomography and thoracic computed tomography helped in localising the underlying malignancy. A transbronchial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Neuroimmunological studies identified anti-Hu antibodies and confirmed a paraneoplastic aetiology for his neuropathy. Treatment of small cell lung cancer with carboplatin and etoposide resulted in significant improvement of neurological symptoms. We report a case of a patient with SCLC and anti-Hu paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy with microvasculitis, and discuss the literature on prognosis of patients with SCLC with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes compared with patients with SCLC only.
Ansari
J
J
Meyerstein Institute of Oncology, Middlesex, UK. drjawaher@yahoo.com
Nagabhushan
N
N
Syed
R
R
Bomanji
J
J
Bacon
C M
CM
Lee
S M
SM
D001323:Autoantibodies; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D020364:Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins