Paraneoplastic Severe Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review Of The Literature

Objective: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs) are a diverse group of neurological disorders affecting any part of the nervous system before or during cancer. Case: A 78-year-old patient had pain and burning sensation first in the upper extremity 3 years ago, and then, muscle weakness was added a short time later. The same symptoms developed in the lower extremities 1 year ago. He was admitted to the intensive care unit due to pneumonia and was conscious but quadriplegic with a modified Rankin score of 5. Abdominal computed tomography showed mass lesions in the liver and pancreas. The biopsies demonstrated pancreatic small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Electrophysiological studies disclosed severe sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. Since other polyneuropathy causes were excluded, the diagnosis was paraneoplastic sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. Palliative care was considered because the patient had a poor functional state. Conclusion: Early cancer diagnosis is paramount in patients with PNSs to have appropriate therapy.