Guillain-Barré-Like Syndrome From Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Guillain-Barré-like syndrome (GBS) has been noted in solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric, breast, and colon cancer and is characterized by an ascending weakness generally with mild paresthesias; however, it has not been noted in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A 64-year-old woman with moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the upper esophagus receiving 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin chemotherapy concurrently with radiation therapy presented for two weeks of progressive lower extremity weakness and numbness. She experienced acute worsening of symptoms after her cisplatin infusion. She underwent a lumbar puncture that revealed findings consistent with GBS and she began treatment with intravenous immunoglobin. She had gradual improvement in her weakness and paresthesias and was discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. This case documents the first noted association between GBS and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.