A possible paraneoplastic neuromyelitis optica associated with lung cancer.
Neuromyelitis optica is associated with antibodies to aquaporin-4 channels and has been classically defined as the occurrence of bilateral optic neuritis and transverse myelitis with no other neurological involvement. We describe here a 63-year-old woman who presented to our local hospital with an acute, bilateral visual loss followed by progressive paraparesis. Medical evaluations revealed a lung tumor and spinal MRI showed multiple cervical-dorsal hyperintense T(2) lesions with mild mass effect. Testing for NMO-Ig resulted positive. Patient's diagnosis was thus consistent with a possible paraneoplastic neuromyelitis optica associated with non-small cell lung cancer and evidence of NMO-Ig.
De Santis
Giuseppe
G
Department of Medical-Surgical Disciplines, Communication and Behaviour, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Corso Giovecca, 203, 44100, Ferrara, Italy. giuseppede_santis@yahoo.it
Caniatti
Luisa
L
De Vito
Alessandro
A
De Gennaro
Riccardo
R
Granieri
Enrico
E
Tola
Maria Rosaria
MR
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D008775:Methylprednisolone