Paraneoplastic pseudo-obstruction, mononeuropathy multiplex, and sensory neuronopathy

A patient with mononeuropathy multiplex, sensory neuronopathy, and diffuse intestinal pseudo-obstruction consisting of gastroparesis and impaired small and large bowel motility was found to have a small cell carcinoma of the lung. The constellation of findings were indicative of paraneoplastic neuropathy, which was confirmed with the appropriate antibody studies demonstrating antineuronal nuclear antibodies. Identification of paraneoplastic neuropathy is important, since early treatment of the primary cancer, which is virtually always a small cell carcinoma of the lung, may halt the progression of the disorder.