Small cell lung cancer presenting with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis

Abstract

We report two cases of the rare neurological paraneoplastic syndrome, limbic encephalitis, as the initial presentation of small cell lung cancer. The first case responded to treatment of the underlying malignancy, while the second required more acute treatment in the intensive care setting. In this case, initial treatment was with immunosuppression to achieve a degree of stability before the underlying malignancy could be treated. Both cases had significant improvement in neurological function. These cases highlight the importance of directed investigation to try and identify an underlying malignancy in patients in whom a diagnosis of limbic encephalitis is made, and the difficulty in managing such patients.