Two paraneoplastic syndromes in a patient with ovarian cancer: nephrotic syndrome and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Background: A paraneoplastic syndrome-a rare, indirect system disturbance located distant from a neoplasm-has been reported in association with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Two paraneoplastic syndromes-nephrotic syndrome and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD)-developed in a patient who had no symptoms from ovarian cancer. She presented with the nephrotic syndrome. Evaluation for metastasis, including computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography, showed a slightly enlarged right ovary and a 2-cm lower paraaortic lymph node on the right side. A 5-cm ovarian mass and multiple paraaortic lymph nodes were excised, and six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel were given. Nephrotic syndrome symptoms had greatly subsided at 6 weeks after surgery. At 7 months after surgery, symptoms of PCD developed yet CT, CA-125 levels, and physical examination showed no evidence of ovarian cancer.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, development of two paraneoplastic syndromes in one patient with ovarian cancer has not been reported. Nephrotic syndrome resolved with treatment of the neoplasm whereas PCD did not.