Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration as initial presentation of renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is usually associated with gynecological and breast cancer, lung cancer, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Renal cell carcinoma has rarely been described as an underlying malignancy in these cases. Case presentation: We report the case of a 75 year-old woman who develop cerebellar ataxia following a respiratory viral infection. During investigation, around 1 year afterward, she noticed constitutional symptoms suggestive of malignancy. Renal carcinoma was found and the hypothesis of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration was considered. Conclusions: As no specific antineuronal antibodies have been described in the setting of renal cell carcinoma, paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration should be considered when the tumor is detected and other causes are excluded. Immunotherapy should be prescribed as soon as possible.