Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration in a patient with ovarian cancer

• Published in: Taiwanese journal of obstetrics & gynecology Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 313 - 315
• Main Authors: Chien, Hung-Ju, Lee, Chuo-Yu, Chen, Lu-An, Wu, Chao-Chih, Chang, Chih-Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Elsevier B.V 01.06.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; anti-Yo antibody; Carcinoma - complications; Carcinoma - pathology; Carcinoma - surgery; Dizziness - etiology; Female; Gait Ataxia - etiology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Nerve Tissue Proteins - analysis; Obstetrics and Gynecology; ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - complications; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Ovarian Neoplasms - surgery; paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System - etiology; Speech Disorders - etiology; anti-Yo antibody; ovarian cancer; paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
• ISSN: 1028-4559; 1875-6263
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2014.03.012

Herein, we report a case of ovarian serous carcinoma with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. A 44-year-old female presented to our hospital with dizziness, slurred speech, and ataxic gait. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. A lumbar puncture revealed a normal cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid, but slightly elevated protein. Her serum cancer antigen -125 level was high (2126.4 U/mL), and abdominal computed tomography disclosed a pelvic mass measuring 11 cm in diameter. Exploratory laparotomy was then performed, and a frozen section of the tumor revealed serous carcinoma. According to the surgical findings and pathological report, The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage IIIC, Grade 3, serous-type ovarian cancer was diagnosed. Due to the abovementioned symptoms and signs, we performed a serial test to document the presence of anti-Yo antibody in this patient.