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Pervin I, Ramanathan S, Cappelen-Smith C, Vucic S, Reddel SW, Hardy TA. Clinical and radiological characteristics and outcomes of patients with recurrent or relapsing tumefactive demyelination. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2024; 82:105408. [PMID: 38219394 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapsing or recurrent tumefactive demyelination is rare and has not been studied beyond individual case reports. OBJECTIVE We examined the clinical course, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), treatment and outcomes of patients with recurrent tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDLs). METHODS We used PubMed to identify reports of recurrent TDLs and included the details of an additional, unpublished patient. RESULTS We identified 18 cases (11F, 7 M). The median age at onset of the index TDL was 37 years (range 12-72) and most were solitary lesions 72 % (13/18). CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands (OCBs) were detected in 25 % (4/16). Only one of those tested (n = 13) was positive for AQP4-IgG. A moderate-to-marked treatment response (high dose corticosteroid with or without additional plasmapheresis, IVIg or disease modifying therapies) was evident in 89 % of treated patients. Median EDSS at the median follow-up of 36 months (range 6-144) was 2 (range 1-10). Most remained ambulatory (EDSS < 4 in 13/18), but 1 patient died. CONCLUSION The median age of patients with relapsing TDLs is similar to that of typical MS, but differences include a lower female:male sex ratio, larger lesions, and a comparative lack of CSF-restricted OCBs. Outcomes vary among this group of patients ranging from minimal disability through to death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irin Pervin
- Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinics, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sudarshini Ramanathan
- Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinics, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Translational Neuroimmunology Group, Faculty of medicine and health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Steve Vucic
- Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinics, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen W Reddel
- Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinics, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Todd A Hardy
- Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinics, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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2
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Bakirtzis C, Lima M, De Lorenzo SS, Artemiadis A, Theotokis P, Kesidou E, Konstantinidou N, Sintila SA, Boziki MK, Parissis D, Ioannidis P, Karapanayiotides T, Hadjigeorgiou G, Grigoriadis N. Secondary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Disorders in the Elderly: A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2126. [PMID: 37570367 PMCID: PMC10418902 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary demyelinating diseases comprise a wide spectrum group of pathological conditions and may either be attributed to a disorder primarily affecting the neurons or axons, followed by demyelination, or to an underlying condition leading to secondary damage of the myelin sheath. In the elderly, primary demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as multiple sclerosis, are relatively uncommon. However, secondary causes of CNS demyelination may often occur and in this case, extensive diagnostic workup is usually needed. Infectious, postinfectious, or postvaccinal demyelination may be observed, attributed to age-related alterations of the immune system in this population. Osmotic disturbances and nutritional deficiencies, more commonly observed in the elderly, may lead to conditions such as pontine/extrapontine myelinolysis, Wernicke encephalopathy, and demyelination of the posterior columns of the spinal cord. The prevalence of malignancies is higher in the elderly, sometimes leading to radiation-induced, immunotherapy-related, or paraneoplastic CNS demyelination. This review intends to aid clinical neurologists in broadening their diagnostic approach to secondary CNS demyelinating diseases in the elderly. Common clinical conditions leading to secondary demyelination and their clinical manifestations are summarized here, while the current knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms is additionally presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Bakirtzis
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Maria Lima
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Sotiria Stavropoulou De Lorenzo
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Artemios Artemiadis
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Cyprus, Nicosia CY-2029, Cyprus; (A.A.); (G.H.)
| | - Paschalis Theotokis
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Evangelia Kesidou
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Natalia Konstantinidou
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Styliani-Aggeliki Sintila
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Marina-Kleopatra Boziki
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Dimitrios Parissis
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | - Theodoros Karapanayiotides
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
| | | | - Nikolaos Grigoriadis
- Second Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.L.); (S.S.D.L.); (P.T.); (E.K.); (N.K.); (S.-A.S.); (M.-K.B.); (D.P.); (P.I.); (T.K.); (N.G.)
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3
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Shiraishi W, Umemura T, Nakayama Y, Yamada Y, Shijo M, Hashimoto T. Case Report: Paraneoplastic Tumefactive Demyelination Associated With Seminoma. Front Neurol 2022; 13:946180. [PMID: 35899265 PMCID: PMC9309514 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.946180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paraneoplastic tumefactive demyelination (TD) is a rare disorder of the central nervous system that can be challenging to diagnose. Here, we describe a 32-year-old Japanese man with a TD associated with testicular seminoma. He presented with symptoms of right-sided motor and sensory impairment 2 days after vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high-intensity lesion in the left internal capsule. He had a 3-year history of enlargement of the left testicle. Blood examination showed tumor marker elevation and the presence of anti-amphiphysin antibodies. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) revealed mass lesions in the left testicle and enlargement of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Radical orchiectomy was performed. As the pathology showed testicular seminoma, chemotherapy was administered. After surgery, his neurological symptoms deteriorated. MRI revealed that the brain lesion had enlarged and progressed to a tumefactive lesion without gadolinium enhancement. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was normal without pleocytosis or protein elevation. Steroid pulse therapy was added; however, his symptoms did not improve. A brain stereotactic biopsy was performed and the sample showed demyelinating lesions without malignant cells. As the initial corticosteroid therapy was ineffective, gamma globulin therapy was administered in parallel with chemotherapy, and the clinical symptoms and imaging findings were partially ameliorated. TD seldom appears as a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. In addition, there are few reports of COVID-19 vaccination-associated demyelinating disease. Clinicians should recognize paraneoplastic TD, and the further accumulation of similar cases is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Shiraishi
- Department of Neurology, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraishi Internal Medicine Clinic, Nogata, Japan
- *Correspondence: Wataru Shiraishi
| | - Takeru Umemura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yuuki Nakayama
- Department of Urology, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yui Yamada
- Department of Pathology, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shijo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka Dental College Medical and Dental Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hashimoto
- Department of Neurology, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan
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4
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Vakrakou AG, Brinia ME, Svolaki I, Argyrakos T, Stefanis L, Kilidireas C. Immunopathology of Tumefactive Demyelinating Lesions-From Idiopathic to Drug-Related Cases. Front Neurol 2022; 13:868525. [PMID: 35418930 PMCID: PMC8997292 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.868525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDL) represent a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians, and in rare atypical cases a collaboration of a neuroradiologist, a neurologist, and a neuropathologist is warranted for accurate diagnosis. Recent advances in neuropathology have shown that TDL represent an umbrella under which many different diagnostic entities can be responsible. TDL can emerge not only as part of the spectrum of classic multiple sclerosis (MS) but also can represent an idiopathic monophasic disease, a relapsing disease with recurrent TDL, or could be part of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)- and aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-associated disease. TDL can appear during the MS disease course, and increasingly cases arise showing an association with specific drug interventions. Although TDL share common features with classic MS lesions, they display some unique features, such as extensive and widespread demyelination, massive and intense parenchymal infiltration by macrophages along with lymphocytes (mainly T but also B cells), dystrophic changes in astrocytes, and the presence of Creutzfeldt cells. This article reviews the existent literature regarding the neuropathological findings of tumefactive demyelination in various disease processes to better facilitate the identification of disease signatures. Recent developments in immunopathology of central nervous system disease suggest that specific pathological immune features (type of demyelination, infiltrating cell type distribution, specific astrocyte pathology and complement deposition) can differentiate tumefactive lesions arising as part of MS, MOG-associated disease, and AQP4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Lessons from immunopathology will help us not only stratify these lesions in disease entities but also to better organize treatment strategies. Improved advances in tissue biomarkers should pave the way for prompt and accurate diagnosis of TDL leading to better outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aigli G. Vakrakou
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Evgenia Brinia
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Svolaki
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Leonidas Stefanis
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Kilidireas
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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5
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Oliveira MCB, de Brito MH, Simabukuro MM. Central Nervous System Demyelination Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Review of the Literature. Front Neurol 2020; 11:538695. [PMID: 33362680 PMCID: PMC7759512 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.538695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a novel class of antineoplastic treatment that enhances immunity against tumors. They are associated with immune adverse events, and several neurological syndromes have been described, including multiple sclerosis and atypical demyelination. We performed a systematic literature review of case reports with neurological immune adverse events that presented with central nervous system demyelination, up to December 2019. We found 23 cases: seven with myelitis, four isolated optic neuritis, one neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, five multiple sclerosis, and six with atypical demyelination. Ipilimumab was the most frequently used ICI (11/23). The median time to develop symptoms from the onset of ICI was 6.5 weeks [range 1.0–43.0], and from last ICI dose was 14 days [range 0–161]. Anatomopathological examination was performed in four cases, with the finding of a T-cell mediated immune response. Outcomes were generally favorable after immunosuppression: 18 patients had improvement or a full recovery, three patients did not respond to treatment, three patients died, and in one, treatment was not reported. We describe the patients' clinical presentation, treatment administered, and outcomes. We further speculate on possible pathophysiological mechanisms and discuss potential treatments that may be worth investigating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos C B Oliveira
- Neurology Unit, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo H de Brito
- Neurology Unit, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mateus M Simabukuro
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
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6
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Aktas A, Probst D, Van Tine B, Marlow K. Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma associated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis by a possible paraneoplastic process. Rare Tumors 2020; 12:2036361320977012. [PMID: 33294143 PMCID: PMC7705382 DOI: 10.1177/2036361320977012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a low-grade, malignant vascular neoplasm that frequently involves the liver, lungs, bone, and soft tissue. Although not commonly associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome, paraneoplastic syndromes in the setting of EHE have been reported. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an acute, autoimmune, demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that most commonly occurs after an infection or vaccination. We present the case of a 23 year old female who developed the acute onset of fevers, tremors, right sided hemiplegia, global aphasia, and incontinence of urine and stool. MRI demonstrated findings consistent with a demyelinating disorder and brain biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of ADEM. The patient's work up revealed multiple liver lesions which were biopsy proven EHE. This case report discusses the diagnosis and treatment of two concurrent rare disease processes and the possible association of the processes via a paraneoplastic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adem Aktas
- Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel Probst
- Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian Van Tine
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kathryn Marlow
- Division of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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7
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Vakrakou AG, Tzanetakos D, Argyrakos T, Koutsis G, Evangelopoulos ME, Andreadou E, Anagnostouli M, Breza M, Tzartos JS, Gialafos E, Dimitrakopoulos AN, Velonakis G, Toulas P, Stefanis L, Kilidireas C. Recurrent Fulminant Tumefactive Demyelination With Marburg-Like Features and Atypical Presentation: Therapeutic Dilemmas and Review of Literature. Front Neurol 2020; 11:536. [PMID: 32714265 PMCID: PMC7344179 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical forms of demyelinating diseases with tumor-like lesions and aggressive course represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for neurologists. Herein, we describe a 50-year-old woman presenting with subacute onset of left hemiparesis, memory difficulties and headache. Brain MRI revealed a tumefactive right frontal-parietal lesion with perilesional edema, mass effect and homogenous post-contrast enhancement, along with other small atypical lesions in the white-matter. Brain biopsy of cerebral lesion ruled out lymphoma or any other neoplastic process and patient placed on corticosteroids with complete clinical/radiological remission. Two years after disease initiation, there was disease exacerbation with reappearance of the tumor-like mass. The patient initially responded to high doses of corticosteroids but soon became resistant. Plasma-exchange sessions were not able to limit disease burden. Resistance to therapeutic efforts led to a second biopsy that showed perivascular demyelination, predominantly consisting of macrophages, with a small number of T and B lymphocytes, and the presence of reactive astrocytes, typical of Creutzfeldt-Peters cells. The patient received high doses of cyclophosphamide with substantial clinical/radiological response but relapsed after 7-intensive cycles. She received 4-weekly doses of rituximab with disease exacerbation and brainstem involvement. She eventually died with complicated pneumonia. We present a very rare case of recurrent tumefactive demyelinating lesions, with atypical tumor-like characteristics, with initial response to corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, but subsequent development of drug-resistance and unexpected exacerbation upon rituximab administration. Our clinical case raises therapeutic dilemmas and points to the need for immediate and appropriate immunosuppression in difficult to treat tumefactive CNS lesions with Marburg-like features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aigli G Vakrakou
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Tzanetakos
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Koutsis
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Eleptheria Evangelopoulos
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elisabeth Andreadou
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Anagnostouli
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marianthi Breza
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - John S Tzartos
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Gialafos
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios N Dimitrakopoulos
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Velonakis
- Research Unit of Radiology, 2nd Department of Radiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Toulas
- Research Unit of Radiology, 2nd Department of Radiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Leonidas Stefanis
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Kilidireas
- Demyelinating Diseases Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Aeginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Van Haver AS, Debruyne F, Sanders K, Verstappen A. Paraneoplastic tumefactive demyelination in a 47-year-old man with underlying seminoma. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020; 42:102060. [PMID: 32217464 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumefactive demyelination presents as an aggressive, fast progressive focal demyelinating lesion in the central nervous system, with often devastating clinical outcome if not acutely treated. Correct and early treatment is threatened by its real diagnostic challenge. CASE REPORT We describe a 47-year-old man with tumefactive demyelination and testicular seminoma. He presented with aphasia, cognitive impairment and right sided weakness of the arm and lower face. MRI revealed a lesion characteristic of tumefactive demyelination. Cerebral biopsy confirmed this diagnosis. In addition, a testicular seminoma was diagnosed. Temporal association of demyelination and malignancy was highly suggestive for a paraneoplastic syndrome. He responded well to corticosteroid therapy plus orchiectomy, but a behavioral disturbance remained. DISCUSSION A good knowledge of specific imaging characteristics of tumefactive demyelination can help in early diagnosis. Multiple underlying causes should be considered, including, but not limited to multiple sclerosis. A paraneoplastic syndrome should not be overlooked. This is the fifth case in which seminoma is associated with a paraneoplastic tumefactive demyelination lesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Van Haver
- Neurology department, GZA Sint-Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Frederik Debruyne
- Neurology department, GZA Sint-Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Katrien Sanders
- Neurology department, GZA Sint-Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annick Verstappen
- Neurology department, GZA Sint-Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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