A possible paraneoplastic neuromyelitis optica associated with lung cancer

Neurol Sci. 2009 Oct;30(5):397-400. doi: 10.1007/s10072-009-0112-0. Epub 2009 Jun 30.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Aquaporin 4 / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / complications*
  • Disease Progression
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / drug therapy
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / etiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibodies
  • Aquaporin 4
  • Methylprednisolone