Severe central and peripheral paraneoplastic demyelination associated with tumours of the ovaries

The aim of the study is to present MRI examinations of the brain and spinal cord, performed in girls with acute severe neurological presentation of paraneoplastic syndrome associated with ovarian teratomas. Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) is a rare disorder caused by remote effects of malignancy in different organs. The pathogenesis of PNS concerns the autoimmune system and specific antibodies. PNS can be seen as encephalomyelitis, limbic encephalitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, cerebellar ataxia, brainstem encephalitis, and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. These symptoms are potentially reversible, if the underlying neoplasm is removed.

We presented three girls, aged 13, 17, and 18 years. They were all referred to the hospital because of an acute onset of severe disseminated encephalomyelitis. All MRI exams were performed on a 1.5 T scanner with a routine brain and spinal cord protocol, including TSE T2-WI and FLAIR sequences. In all cases, a contrast agent was injected in the standard dose.

Neurological examination performed at the onset of the disease revealed hemiparesis, seizures, and consciousness disturbances. In one girl, visual field loss was also disclosed. They were all healthy before the onset of the disease. Brain and spinal cord MR imaging revealed multiple hyperintense lesions located supratentorially in the white matter of both hemispheres, in the pons, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Patients were treated with methyloprednisolone IV and IVIG. They all improved but significant sequelae were present. Two of them developed symptoms of acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy within 2 months after the onset of encephalomyelitis. At the same time, brain MRI showed progression of the lesions. In two patients, anti-Yo antibodies were present in blood. Extensive examinations revealed bilateral ovarian teratomas in two patients, and left-sided ovarian teratoma in one case. Surgical resection of teratomas resulted in rapid clinical improvement.

These cases show that in children and adolescents, acute demyelinating disease can be a manifestation of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. Thus, PNS should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of encephalomyelitis. In female children and adolescents with suspected PNS, it is important to search for ovarian tumours.