[A case of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration associated with small cell lung cancer showing marked response to intravenous immunoglobulin].
BACKGROUND
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), one of the paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS), develops a subacute cerebellar dysfunction and its neurological prognosis is poor in most cases. Because it is considered to be immune-mediated, immunosuppressive therapy may be effective, but its past outcomes are not constant.


METHODS
A 59-year-old woman presented with deteriorating cerebellar manifestations such as ataxic gait, nausea, and dysarthria. Chest CT revealed a nodule in the upper lobe of the right lung, and small cell lung cancer was diagnosed by transbronchoscopic lung biopsy and sputum cytology. Although known antineuronal antibodies were not detected, no other causative diseases were recognized, so PCD associated with SCLC was diagnosed. The cerebellar manifestations improved remarkably with immediate intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. SCLC showed complete response (CR) after chemoradiotherapy, and the neurological symptoms have not worsened at present.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with IVIG at the early stage may lead to the improvement of PCD and is worth attempting.
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University.
Masanori
M
Kawakami
Masashi
M
Bando
Naoko
N
Mato
Takakiyo
T
Nakaya
Shoji
S
Ohno
Yukihiko
Y
Sugiyama
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020362:Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous