Publication
[Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration: case report of a patient with breast carcinoma]
Journal Paper/Review - Apr 1, 1996
Huober Jens, Niedermaier N, Drlicek M, Kaufmann M, Hacke W, Bastert G
Units
PubMed
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Print
Pages
Brief description/objective
Case Report on a Breast Cancer Patient: A description of medical history, diagnosis and therapy of a patient with breast cancer is presented. The patient showed primary symptoms of vertigo and truncal and gait ataxia. The cause of this cerebellar disorder was a paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) characterized by anti-Purkinje cell antibodies (anti-Yo) directed against specific epitops shared by Purkinje and tumour cells. The presence of these antibodies in some patients suggests an autoimmune mechanism, although their role in pathogenesis has not been established. Usually malignancies of the breast and the ovaries are associated with anti-Yo positive PCD. The intensive search for the underlying neoplasma led to the identification of a malignant tumour of the right breast. Tumour excision of subsequent immunosuppressive treatment resulted in a progression of PCD. Antibody titers remained nearly unchanged during the course of the disease.