• Sarmad Said, Chad J Cooper, Edgar Reyna, Haider Alkhateeb, Jesus Diaz, and Zeina Nahleh.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, U.S.A.
• Am J Case Rep. 2013 Jan 1; 14: 391-4.

PatientFemale, 59 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis Symptoms: Seizure • memory changes • decreased concentrationMedicationChemotherapy Clinical Procedure: Cerebral images Specialty: Hematology • Oncology.ObjectiveChallenging differential diagnosis.BackgroundParaneoplastic neurological disorders (PND) are defined as remote effects on the nervous system that are not caused directly by the tumor, its metastases, or metabolic disruptions. This syndrome occurs in less than 1 per 10,000 patients diagnosed with a malignancy. Many antibodies are found in the central nervous system in PND, the most well known are Anti-Hu, Tr, CV2 Ta, Yo, Ri and amphiphysin. Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis occurs due to involvement of the limbic system secondary to an autoimmune response to neurons of the brain provoked by the antibodies. PATIENTs, thus, present with seizures, changes in mood, memory, and personality.Case ReportFifty-nine years-old female patient presented with seizures, decreased concentration and memory changes. Laboratory workup was remarkable for hyponatremia. Further workup included brain computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which suggested a diagnosis of encephalitis for limbic encephalitis. Anti-Hu, anti-Ma and NMDA-receptor antibodies were requested of which Anti Hu antibodies were positive. Transbronchial biopsy was obtained which confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer.ConclusionsA very high index of suspicion should thus be present when patients present with paraneoplastic abnormalities. It must be emphasized that limbic encephalitis (LE) occurs at an early stage of the disease development and therefore the detection of paraneoplastic LE can lead to a quicker identification of the underlying malignancy and a better outcome.

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