A Case of Paraneoplastic Demyelinating Motor Polyneuropathy

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy is commonly accompanied by cancer but demyelinating ones are not commonly reported. We report the clinical, neurophysiological, and biological characteristics of an 82-year-old patient who presented with a demyelinating motor neuropathy and high titre of anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with oesophageal cancer. The neurological course worsened rapidly despite immunotherapy, leading to a bedridden status. We propose to suspect a paraneoplastic origin in older patients or when the clinical course progresses rapidly within a few weeks or months.

Keywords

• Motor neuropathy
• Conduction block
• Paraneoplastic neuropathy
• Cancer
• Onconeural antibodies
• Anti-ganglioside antibodies