Becquart C, Ryckewaert G, Desmedt E, Defebvre L, Le Rhun E, Mortier L
Service de dermatologie, hôpital Claude-Huriez, rue Michel-Polonovski, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Apr;140(4):278-81. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2013.01.424. Epub 2013 Feb 20.
Several studies indicate an association between immune-related manifestations and prolonged survival in metastatic melanoma. Limbic encephalitis driven by immune-mediated disorders may also be observed during the course of certain cancers.
In November 2009, a 60-year-old woman followed up for metastatic melanoma since July 2005 developed rapidly progressive cognitive disorder. Clinical, biological, MRI and electroencephalogram abnormalities resulted in diagnosis of probably paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis in a context of immune-related manifestations although chemotoxicity could not be ruled out. Auto-immunity with hypothyroidism and thrombocytopenia were seen concomitantly.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of probably paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with melanoma, a new example of an immune-related condition associated with prolonged survival in metastatic melanoma.
