Paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis in a patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma and atypical anti-neuronal antibodies

Paraneoplastic ataxia and dystonia secondary to a malignant fibrous histiocytoma

“…Unfortunately, the investigating pathologist was unable to confirm the presence of any known onconeural antibodies in the CSF or serum, but the autoimmune nature of the disease was confirmed by the presence of oligoclonal bands in CSF and the immunohistochemical detection of immunoglobulin G deposits on membranes of Purkinje cells, neurons of cerebellar granular layer and in the cerebellar nuclei 8. Also in 2004 Corato et al 9 reported a case of paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis in a patient with a malignant fibrous histiocytoma with atypical antineuronal antibodies. In this case, a 74-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of myoclonus affecting the upper extremities and with increased tendon reflexes on the right 9.…”

“…Also in 2004 Corato et al 9 reported a case of paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis in a patient with a malignant fibrous histiocytoma with atypical antineuronal antibodies. In this case, a 74-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of myoclonus affecting the upper extremities and with increased tendon reflexes on the right 9. An abdominal CT revealed a retroperitoneal mass with multiple hepatic and lymphatic formations with biopsies of the lateral aortic lymph node confirming the presence of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma which was shown to be producing atypical antineuronal antibodies by a combination of immunohistochemical and western blot analysis 9…”