Acute onset of brain atrophy and dementia in a patient with small cell lung cancer: a case report

Lung Cancer. 2011 Mar;71(3):367-9. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2010.11.017. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Abstract

A 59-year-old man who was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), achieved a complete response to the induction chemoradiotherapy and received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) (25 Gy at 250 cGy per fraction) in October 2008. Three months later, he complained of anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, and short-term memory loss and developed dementia and systemic muscle weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging in April and July 2009 revealed the progression of the diffuse brain atrophy without evidence of the metastasis of SCLC. Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome was suspected because anti-Hu antibody was detected in his serum and cerebrospinal fluid, but the adverse effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were also suspected as the cause of his neurological disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Atrophy / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrophy / etiology*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / therapy
  • Dementia / etiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Salvage Therapy