A Case Suspected of Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis.

TAKEKAWA Toru, UEMATSU Mikumo, ABO Masahiro, OKUMA Ruri, EUN Sang Soo, MIYANO Satoshi

doi:10.2490/jjrm1963.39.249

We encountered a case strongly suspected of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE). PLE is a rare syndrome characterized by neurological signs and symptoms originating from the remote effects of cancer, and these symptoms are accompanied by malignant tumor, mostly small cell lung carcinoma. A 64-year-old woman had gradually increasing symptoms of anxiety, recent memory disorder, disorientation, and agitation. She was admitted to a hospital complaining of mild fever, epilepsy, and somnolence about one month later, on August 10, 2000. Brain metastasis and viral encephalitis were excluded. She was transferred to our hospital for further rehabilitation treatment on December 20, 2000, with reduced spontaneity and double hemiplegia. Although no definitive diagnosis was made, we provided her with rehabilitation to maintain her body function, and also gave mental support to her family with the aim of home discharge. As her symptoms improved, she could go out for short periods. Because some tumor markers were high, malignant disease was suspected. She underwent various examinations, and a biopsy showed small cell carcinoma of the lung. The clinical symptoms and other findings strongly suggested PLE with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Her general condition was too poor to permit chemotherapy, so she was maintained only on symptomatic therapy, and rehabilitation was changed to palliative care. She died about five month after hospitalization.

A Case Suspected of Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis.

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