Transverse myelitis as a rare paraneoplastic manifestation of a pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma: A case report.

RATIONALE

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a non-compressive myelopathy caused by spinal cord inflammation that can present with motor, sensory and autonomic deficits. Paraneoplastic TM represents a rare etiology of TM caused by autoantibodies targeting the spinal cord in the setting of malignancy, most frequently lung cancers and lymphoproliferative disorders. Anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) is a rare antibody associated with paraneoplastic neurological sequelae. This case presents a GAD65 positive paraneoplastic TM in the setting of a pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 51-year-old male with an 18.5 pack year smoking history presented for 4 months of progressively worsening left-sided weakness and back pain. He endorsed numbness, tremors and paresthesias of his left upper extremity, left lower extremity weakness with unsteady gait.

DIAGNOSES

Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated C4-T1 demyelination consistent with TM. The serum paraneoplastic panel revealed a positive GAD65 prompting further workup for occult malignancy. Computed tomography chest abdomen and pelvis and magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed pancreatic body and tail enlargement. A pancreatic tail mass was confirmed on endoscopic ultrasound. Pathology was consistent with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, confirming the diagnosis of a paraneoplastic TM.

INTERVENTIONS

He received 5 days of methylprednisolone (1.0 g daily) and plasmapheresis for initial treatment of his TM and 5 days of methylprednisolone for his repeat episode. He was being treated for stage III T4N1 pancreatic cancer. He had completed 2 cycles of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, leucovorin, and 5-flurouracil (mFOLFIRINOX).

OUTCOMES

The patient initially had improvement in his neurological symptoms following the first chemotherapy cycle but developed quadriparesis requiring readmission for subacute TM. He transitioned to hospice care given progression of malignancy.

LESSONS

This case highlights the importance of GAD65 as a paraneoplastic antibody and promotes awareness of pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma as a rare cause of paraneoplastic TM.