paraneoplastic neuromyopathies

Last reviewed 01/2018

The most common tumours causing paraneoplastic neuromyopathies originate in the bronchus and the breast.

Paraneoplastic neuromyopathies include:

  • peripheral neuropathies
  • cortical cerebellar degeneration
  • a polymyopathy resembling polymyositis
  • a myasthenic syndrome

It is thought that an immune response to the tumour results in cross-reactive antibodies to nerve and muscle epitopes. A possible example of such an antibody is the "anti-YO" antibody which binds Purkinje cell cytoplasm and is associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar disease.