Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Quantitation of Intra-peritoneal Ovarian Cancer Metastasis
Published on: July 18, 2016
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis: ovarian cancer presenting as an amnesic syndrome
Michael H Bloch1, Wei Chan Hwang, Joachim M Baehring
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. michael.bloch@yale.edu
Background:
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a rare neurologic manifestation of malignancy. Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis typically presents with short-term memory loss, seizures, or other limbic system abnormalities. The majority of PLE cases are associated with lung and testicular cancer.
Case:
We present the first case of PLE attributable to an epithelial ovarian cancer. The 58-year-old woman presented with rapidly progressing short-term memory loss and amnesia. The diagnosis of ovarian cancer was suspected on the basis of computed tomography scan findings. The patient showed dramatic clinical improvement within 2 weeks of debulking surgery and after the initiation of plasmapheresis and chemotherapy.
Conclusion:
Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare complication of ovarian tumors that is potentially reversible with prompt surgical management of the primary tumor, plasmapheresis, and chemotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Hepatic Encephalopathy

