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Neurologic complications of ovarian carcinoma
1Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Background:
Neurologic complications of ovarian carcinoma are uncommon and to the authors' knowledge the full spectrum has not been delineated previously.
Methods:
The authors reviewed the findings of 121 neurologic consultations on 83 ovarian carcinoma patients between 1993 and 1996; this represents 4% of all ovarian carcinoma patients seen at the study institution in this time period.
Results:
The most common reasons for consultation were altered mental status, pain, weakness, numbness, headache, and seizure. Twenty-seven consultations diagnosed metastatic disease, 14 diagnosed cerebrovascular disease, and 4 diagnosed paraneoplastic syndromes; however, iatrogenic complications (n=38) comprised the majority of diagnoses. Greater than 50% of patients improved neurologically after diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusions:
Neurologic disease accompanying ovarian carcinoma may be more common and more diverse than recognized previously. Definitive neurologic diagnosis and treatment benefits the majority of patients.