Cranial polyneuritis of paraneoplastic origin

We report on a patient with lesions of multiple cranial nerves, later accom panied by a gait ataxia. A paraneoplastic neurological syndrome was assumed . The usual search for a tumour was negative; a CT scan of the thorax, in p articular, was inconspicuous. Because of a positive detection of antineuron al antibodies of the anti-Hu-type, a bronchoscopy was performed. The result showed an intrabronchial small cell carcinoma of the lung, allowing an ear ly specific chemotherapy. Thereafter the tumour was no longer detectable vi a bronchoscopy. There was no improvement of the paraneoplastic neurological disease despite additional immunosuppressive therapy.