CTICasesParaneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis Associated with Small Cell Lung Cancer
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Imaging findings
Brain MRI showed high signal in the amygdala and hippocampus, which is classical for limbic encephalitis. A chest CT revealed large paratracheal and conglomerate mediastinal lymph nodes/mass, invading the superior vena cava (SVC), with associated collapse of the lung bases. No distinct primary lung lesion was clearly identified on lung windows.
Key takeaways
Limbic encephalitis can be a paraneoplastic syndrome, classically associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients typically present with profound encephalopathy. The diagnosis is often presumptive based on imaging findings, clinical presentation, and supportive serology (e.g., anti-Hu antibody in CSF), especially when biopsy is not feasible due to patient instability. This represents a very aggressive process with poor prognosis.
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