Paraneoplastic Anti‐Hu Neuronopathy Secondary to a Myxoid Chondrosarcoma in the Head and Neck Region

Abstract

Case Report A 40 year-old gentleman presented to the otolaryngology office for evaluation of a left supraclavicular mass. Upon review of his history, it was found that the patient had noticed numbness of his arms, legs and trunk, which had developed 23 weeks previously. On physical examination the patient had no reflexes, tonic pupils, and orthostatic hypotension. Workup revealed that the patient had a sensorimotor polyneuropathy. He tested positive for serum anti-Hu antibodies. The patient underwent a left neck dissection including resection of the supraclavicular mass, and he was found to have a myxoid chondrosarcoma with metastases to several cervical lymph nodes. The tumor stained diffusely with anti-Hu antibodies. Since surgery, the patient has received intravenous immunoglobulin and Tacrolimus with slow progression of his neurologic disturbance.