Multifocal paraneoplastic cortical encephalitis associated with myasthenia gravis and thymoma. 2009

Khaled Hammoud, and Geetha Kandimala, and Worthy Warnack, and Steven Vernino
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9036, USA.

OBJECTIVE To report a case of multifocal cortical encephalitis associated with thymoma and to establish an association of this thymoma-related paraneoplastic syndrome with voltage-gated potassium channel antibodies. METHODS Case report. METHODS University hospital. METHODS A 43-year-old woman with a history of seropositive myasthenia gravis and successfully treated invasive thymoma. Four years after thymectomy, she presented with seizure and rapidly progressive confusion and aphasia. Myasthenia gravis remained in pharmacological remission. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed innumerable cortically based signal abnormalities as well as extensive left mesial temporal lobe abnormality with minimal enhancement. RESULTS Chest computed tomography showed abnormal pleural thickening of the left lung, which proved to be recurrent metastatic thymoma. Results of serological evaluation were positive for acetylcholine receptor, striational, and voltage-gated potassium channel antibodies. She showed partial improvement in response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy but ultimately died 2 months later of tumor complications. CONCLUSIONS Thymoma and myasthenia gravis may be associated with other autoimmune neurological disorders including paraneoplastic encephalitis. This second case of thymoma-associated multifocal cortical encephalitis demonstrates that autoimmune encephalitis can extend to cortical regions outside the limbic system. Autoimmune encephalitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with myasthenia gravis or thymoma who develop new cognitive symptoms.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D009157 Myasthenia Gravis A disorder of neuromuscular transmission characterized by fatigable weakness of cranial and skeletal muscles with elevated titers of ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS or muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) autoantibodies. Clinical manifestations may include ocular muscle weakness (fluctuating, asymmetric, external ophthalmoplegia; diplopia; ptosis; and weakness of eye closure) and extraocular fatigable weakness of facial, bulbar, respiratory, and proximal limb muscles. The disease may remain limited to the ocular muscles (ocular myasthenia). THYMOMA is commonly associated with this condition. Anti-MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,MuSK MG,MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized,Myasthenia Gravis, Ocular,Anti MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Generalized Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Anti-MuSK,Myasthenia Gravis, MuSK,Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001323 Autoantibodies Antibodies that react with self-antigens (AUTOANTIGENS) of the organism that produced them. Autoantibody
D001324 Autoantigens Endogenous tissue constituents with the ability to interact with AUTOANTIBODIES and cause an immune response. Autoantigen,Autologous Antigen,Autologous Antigens,Self-Antigen,Self-Antigens,Antigen, Autologous,Antigens, Autologous,Self Antigen,Self Antigens
D013945 Thymoma A neoplasm originating from thymic tissue, usually benign, and frequently encapsulated. Although it is occasionally invasive, metastases are extremely rare. It consists of any type of thymic epithelial cell as well as lymphocytes that are usually abundant. Malignant lymphomas that involve the thymus, e.g., lymphosarcoma, Hodgkin's disease (previously termed granulomatous thymoma), should not be regarded as thymoma. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Carcinoma, Thymic,Carcinomas, Thymic,Thymic Carcinoma,Thymic Carcinomas,Thymomas
D013953 Thymus Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the THYMUS GLAND. Cancer of Thymus,Thymus Cancer,Thymus Tumors,Cancer of the Thymus,Neoplasms, Thymic,Neoplasms, Thymus,Thymic Cancer,Thymic Neoplasms,Thymic Tumors,Cancer, Thymic,Cancer, Thymus,Cancers, Thymic,Cancers, Thymus,Neoplasm, Thymic,Neoplasm, Thymus,Thymic Cancers,Thymic Neoplasm,Thymic Tumor,Thymus Cancers,Thymus Neoplasm,Thymus Tumor,Tumor, Thymic,Tumor, Thymus,Tumors, Thymic,Tumors, Thymus

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