A rare case of paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia secondary to Gynaecological malignancy

Abstract

We report on a rare case of paraneoplastic syndrome (PS) that was discovered on completion of diagnostic work up to be a fallopian tube carcinoma. A 65year old female, presented with 1 month history of imbalance, gait instability, incoordination of right upper limb, vertigo and vomiting. Cerebrovascular accident and drug intoxication was excluded. Indicative of further diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome was presence of adnexal mass in pelvis with identification of onconeural anti-Yo antibodies, detection of which leads to the confirmation of diagnosis. The anti- Yo (Anti-Purkinje cell) antibodies that specifically damage Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Anti- Yo related paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is most commonly found in women with gynecological and breast cancers.