Polymyoclonus, laryngospasm, and cerebellar ataxia associated with adenocarcinoma and multiple neural cation channel autoantibodies.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe and provide audiovisual documentation of a syndrome of polymyoclonus, laryngospasm, and cerebellar ataxia associated with adenocarcinoma and multiple neural cation channel autoantibodies. DESIGN: Case report with video. SETTING: University hospitals. Patient A 69-year-old woman presented with subacute onset of whole-body tremulousness and laryngospasm attributed to gastroesophageal reflux. RESULTS: Further evaluation revealed polymyoclonus, cerebellar ataxia, and laryngospasm suspicious of an underlying malignant neoplasm. Surface electromyography of multiple limb muscles confirmed the presence of polymyoclonus. The patient was seropositive for P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibody; subsequently, whole-body fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and cervical lymph node biopsy revealed widespread metastatic adenocarcinoma. Follow-up serologic evaluation revealed calcium channel antibodies (P/Q type and N type) and potassium channel antibody. CONCLUSIONS: We highlight the importance of recognizing polymyoclonus. To our knowledge, this is also the first description of a syndrome of polymyoclonus, laryngospasm, and ataxia associated with adenocarcinoma and these cation channel antibodies.

Author information

Author/s: Lim, Shen-Yang (SY); Mason, Warren P (WP); Young, Nathan P (NP); Chen, Robert (R); Bower, James H (JH); McKeon, Andrew (A); Pittock, Sean J (SJ); Lang, Anthony E (AE);

Affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Archives of neurology (Arch Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 66 (issue 10) : pp 1285-7

Dates: Created 2009/10/13; Completed 2009/10/30;

PMID: 19822786, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/30/2009, IMS Date: )

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adenocarcinoma - complications; pathology; radionuclide imaging
Aged
Autoantibodies - immunology
Brain Neoplasms - complications; pathology; radionuclide imaging
Calcium Channels, P-Type - immunology
Calcium Channels, Q-Type - immunology
Cerebellar Ataxia - complications
Electromyography
Extremities - innervation; physiology
Female

Associated Chemicals: Autoantibodies (0) ; Calcium Channels, P-Type (0) ; Calcium Channels, Q-Type (0) ; Ion Channels (0) ; Potassium Channels (0)

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