Mixed carcinomatous neuropathy in patients with lung cancer and lymphoma

A clinical, electrophysiological and histological study of the peripheral nerve was performed on 62 patients with lung cancer and 30 patients with lymphoma. There was a mild peripheral neuropathy (MPN) in 17.7% of patients with lung cancer and in 10% of those with lymphoma. MPN was related to the degree of weight loss. Histological studies of 5 patients with MPN demonstrated a loss of large myelinated fibers in all patients, axonal degeneration in 2 and remyelination in 3 patients. Electromyographic and histological findings indicate a primary axonal neuropathy with remyelination, probably secondary to axonal damage. 2 patients with lymphoma developed a severe neuropathy that remitted in 1 patient. The main pathological abnormality was segmental demyelination in both cases. Immunofluorescence studies were negative in all cases with mild or severe neuropathy.