PARANEOPLASTIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Abstract

Two patients with lung carcinoma exhibited pathologic features of meningoencephalitis, subacute cerebellar degeneration, myelitis, ganglioradiculitis and peripheral neuropathy with neurogenic atrophy of muscle. Their clinical and pathologic characteristics are described and compared with those of twenty-eight cases previously reported. This disorder tends to occur in the sixth and seventh decades of life, and is more common in males. The neoplasm is usually of bronchogenic origin. The clinical manifestations are variable, and the pathologic lesions may be more extensive than the clinical findings would suggest. The etiology of this syndrome remains unknown.