Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with small cell carcinoma of the prostate

A 76-year-old man with primary small cell carcinoma of the prostate died after a subacute illness marked by memory loss and truncal ataxia Post-mortem examination of the central nervous system was consistent with limbic encephalitis and cerebellar degeneration. Although limbic encephalitis is a known complication of small cell carcinoma of the lung, this seems to be the first reported case of limbic encephalitis associated with small cell carcinoma of the prostate. Implications with respect to diagnosis and therapy are discussed.