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Updated: May 12, 2026

Ex Vivo Culture of Circulating Tumor Cells in the Cerebral Spinal Fluid from Melanoma Patients to Study Melanoma-Associated Leptomeningeal Disease
Published on: March 29, 2024
[Limbic encephalitis: a new paraneoplastic auto-immune manifestation associated with metastatic melanoma?]
C Becquart1, G Ryckewaert, E Desmedt
1Service de dermatologie, hôpital Claude-Huriez, rue Michel-Polonovski, 59037 Lille cedex, France. coralie.becquart@univ-lille2.fr
Background:
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.
Patients And Methods:
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.
Discussion:
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.
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