Paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis (Q84128)

Paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis results from a targeted attack on the brainstem as a consequence of a potentially effective tumour immune response initiated by onco-neural antigens derived from a systemic cancer resulting in subacute symptoms and signs (usually multiple cranial neuropathies, also hypoventilation) referable to the brainstem. Other symptoms may include laryngospasm, jaw opening dystonia, opsoclonus-myoclonus and narcolepsy/cataplexy. The autoantibody profile in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid predicts the cancer type [see paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis: neural autoantibody positive definition]. MRI may be normal or reveal brainstem abnormalities and spinal fluid is usually inflammatory. Other causes of brainstem encephalitis (e.g. infections) should be excluded.