title: [Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome in 64-year-old patient in association with a small cell lung carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are rare conditions manifest as psychiatric/neurological symptoms. They are caused by autoimmunne cross-reaction leading to destruction of the central nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 64-year-old patient hospitalized for 6 months at the Department of Psychiatry for persisting depression. During that time he progressed to delirium. A diagnosis of diffuse encephalopathy was made, but further examination revealed a small cell lung cancer with generalisation. A paraneoplastic syndrome was finally diagnosed after autoptic and histologic examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes can be early signs of malignancy and may considerably precede oncologic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Ustav klinicke a molekularni patologie LF UP a FN Olomouc. zuzana.prouzova@fnol.cz
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Prouzová
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brychtová
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000150:complications*; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*