Grignani G, Gobbi P G, Piccolo G, Bertoloni D, Rossi A, Pieresca C, Legnani M C, Ascari E
Department of Internal Medicine, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
J Intern Med. 1992 Jan;231(1):81-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1992.tb00503.x.
Progressive necrotic myelopathy is a syndrome characterized by a spotty necrotic degeneration of the whole spinal cord in both anterior and posterior horns. This syndrome was recorded in a man suffering from a lymphoplasmatocytoid lymphoma. Whilst the usual evolution of this neurological syndrome is inexorably fatal, our case had a better outcome, due to the good response of the neoplasm to therapy. Progressive necrotic myelopathy is an uncommon complication of cancer, but it is probably incorrectly recognized in a number of cases. Two possible pathogenetic hypotheses are suggested: an autoimmune or an infective mechanism.
