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Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders in children

Elizabeth M Wells1, Josep Dalmau

  • 1Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. ewells@cnmc.org

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|December 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) affect children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) are rare, severe neurological disorders impacting the developing brain.
  • Increased interest in immunotherapy for PNS highlights potential treatment avenues.
  • Early recognition of PNS in children aids in pediatric cancer detection and reduces neurological damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical presentation, immunology, long-term outcomes, and management of pediatric PNS.
  • To focus on commonly occurring pediatric PNS: opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia, limbic encephalitis, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of presenting symptoms.
  • Analysis of immunological markers.
  • Evaluation of management strategies.
  • Focus on specific pediatric PNS subtypes.

Main Results:

  • PNS can lead to significant neurological damage, a major cause of morbidity in pediatric cancer survivors.
  • Opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia, limbic encephalitis, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis are frequently observed in children.
  • Child neurologists are crucial for diagnosis, tumor detection, and managing neurological sequelae.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt recognition and diagnosis of PNS in children are vital for timely cancer treatment and minimizing neurological impact.
  • Multisite collaborative efforts are essential for standardizing the characterization and treatment of rare pediatric PNS.
  • Effective management requires a coordinated approach involving neurologists and oncologists throughout the treatment continuum.

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