Series of paraneoplastic vasculitic neuropathy: a rare, potentially treatable neuropathy.
BACKGROUND
Paraneoplastic vasculitic neuropathy (PVN) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome. It is characterized by non-systemic subacute vasculitic neuropathy. It is most commonly associated with small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and lymphomas. PVN presents as a painful symmetrical or asymmetrical sensorimotor axonal neuropathy. The neurological symptoms may predate the tumor and may be the initial manifestations, or they may develop after a tumor is diagnosed. Recognition of this entity is important because of its potential treatability.


OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical features of PVN and briefly review the literature.


METHODS
The data was collected retrospectively from the medical records of our hospital.


RESULTS
Of the 14 cases of paraneoplastic neuropathies, 4 had a PVN. The age of onset was more than 50 years and there was no sex preponderance. Pain was seen in three patients. Two patients were previously treated for a thymoma. Two patients, following their presentation with PVN, were diagnosed with a colonic carcinoma and lung carcinoma, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The recognition of PVN is important as this syndrome may respond to immunosuppression and tumor removal.
Department of Neurology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Meena A
MA
Kannan
Sundaram
S
Challa
Rukmini M
RM
Kandadai
Megha S
MS
Uppin
Sheik A
SA
Jabeen
Rupam
R
Borgohain
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020385:Myokymia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020364:Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis*