Second primary tumor in anti-Ma1/2-positive paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis

J Neurooncol. 2006 May;78(1):49-51. doi: 10.1007/s11060-005-9052-6. Epub 2005 Nov 29.

Abstract

Memory loss can be a symptom of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) a neuropsychiatric disorder associated mostly with small-cell lung cancer and anti-Hu antibodies or with testicular tumors and anti-Ma2 antibodies. We present the case of a patient with temporal coincidence of beginning cognitive decline and diagnosis of a carcinoma of the prostate in whom we diagnosed anti-Ma1/Ma2-positive PLE. The tumor had been completely resected but memory impairment further deteriorated. As the effective treatment of the cancer is considered as the most efficient treatment of a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) a second neoplasia was suspected in the patient. By the aid of whole body positron emission tomography with 18-fluorine fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose (FDG-PET) an adenocarcinoma of the cecum could be detected. Two months after surgery anti-Ma antibodies were negative. We conclude that a second neoplasia should be considered, if effective cancer treatment does not lead to improvement or stabilisation of a PNS. Tumor search should be exhaustive and include PET when conventional imaging fails to show a malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Cecal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Limbic Encephalitis / etiology*
  • Limbic Encephalitis / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / complications*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Ma1 antigen
  • Ma2 antigen
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins