title: Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome due to squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.
abstract: We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with encephalopathy, ataxia and oscillopsia diagnosed with opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS). In adults, OMS in the context of encephalopathy is commonly paraneoplastic. A CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and a gastroscopy were performed and were normal. A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography CT scan demonstrated increased uptake in the mid-oesophagus and an endoscopic ultrasound examination demonstrated intramural thickening of 5 mm with no epithelial lesion. The patient was treated with three courses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIg) with improvement in her symptoms. A year following the initial presentation a repeat endoscopic examination demonstrated an ulcerated oesophageal carcinoma with regional lymph node involvement. The patient was treated with neo adjuvant chemotherapy prior to oesophagectomy. The patient's symptoms resolved within 6 months of tumour resection without the need for further IvIg. Unfortunately, after a further 6 months the patient developed liver metastases and died.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rossor
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Abrie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norwood
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053578:Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*