Encefalitis para neoplásica

Abstract

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare condition, of autoimmune origin, associated with a wide range of malignancies and is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms. Our patient presented with abdominal pain of two weeks duration and subsequently developed bradypsychia, seizures, deterioration of mental status, incomprehensible speech, combativeness and ultimately catatonia. Late in the clinical course, an immature ovarian teratoma was discovered as the only plausible cause of her clinical presentation. The tumor was resected and she was administered intravenous immunogloblin and plasmapheresis. In spite of this, the patient died shortly thereafter.