Novel Insights from Clinical Practice

Small Cell Carcinoma with Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy and Tumor Embolization: A Case Report and Literature Review
Manica Sodhi^b, James K. Stoller<sup>a, c

a</sup>Respiratory Therapy,
^bDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, and
^cCleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Respiration 2010;79:77-80 (DOI: 10.1159/000226133)

  Key Words

• Small cell cancer
• Tumor embolism
• Sensory polyneuropathy
• Anti-Hu antibodies

  Abstract

Although small cell cancer of the lung may have protean manifestations, tumor embolization and inability to identify the primary sites are unusual features. We present a patient with anti-Hu antibody-associated paraneoplastic sensory polyneuropathy and tumor embolism diagnosed by endovascular biopsy to be due to small cell cancer, the primary site of which was not evident. To our knowledge, this patient represents only the second individual to be described with tumor embolization complicating small cell cancer and reminds clinicians of the extended spectrum of this disease.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Manica Sodhi, MD
Respiratory Institute, A90
Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195 (USA)
Tel. +1 216 444 4707, Fax +1 216 445 8160, E-Mail sodhim@ccf.org

  Article Information

Received: November 13, 2008
Accepted after revision: January 24, 2009
Published online: June 23, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 10