Nerve and muscle microvasculitis in peripheral neuropathy: a remote effect of cancer?

In a series of 50 cases in which nerve and/or muscle microvasculitis was seen on biopsy, seven were associated with malignancy. In two cases, the cancer was found after the discovery of microvasculitis. All patients exhibited sensory-motor neuropathy, which was often painful and asymmetrical, with a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 1986-09, Vol.49 (9), p.1007-1010
Main Authors: Vincent, D, Dubas, F, Hauw, J J, Godeau, P, Lhermitte, F, Buge, A, Castaigne, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenocarcinoma - complications
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Hodgkin Disease - complications
Humans
Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy - complications
Lung Neoplasms - complications
Male
Medical sciences
Microcirculation
Middle Aged
Muscular Diseases - complications
Neoplasms - complications
Neurology
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - complications
Prostatic Neoplasms - complications
Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses
Vasculitis - complications
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Summary:In a series of 50 cases in which nerve and/or muscle microvasculitis was seen on biopsy, seven were associated with malignancy. In two cases, the cancer was found after the discovery of microvasculitis. All patients exhibited sensory-motor neuropathy, which was often painful and asymmetrical, with a progressive course. ESR and CSF protein levels were always elevated. Motor conduction velocity was slightly reduced in three cases, unmeasurable in one case, and normal in three. Cancers involved were adenocarcinoma in five cases (three prostate and two lung), Hodgkin's disease in one and immunoblastic lymphadenopathy in one. A thorough search for cancer should be performed when microvasculitis is seen in nerve or muscle biopsy specimens, especially when ESR and CSF protein levels are elevated.
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.49.9.1007