Anti-Yo positive and late-onset paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration associated with ovarian carcinoma

RATIONALE Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare nonmetastatic neurological complication often associated with ovarian, breast, and other gynecologic cancers. Anti-Yo is one of the antionconeural antibodies found in patients with PCD. It primarily emerges before a malignancy is detected. PATIENT CONCERNS In this report, we describe an unusual case involving a patient who exhibited anti-Yo-positive PCD 1 year after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. DIAGNOSES Histopathology of the resected tissues and Antineuronal antibody testing. INTERVENTIONS The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, 1 g/d) for 1 week and a large-dose of methylprednisolone (0.4 g/kg/d) for 5 days. At the same time, underlying complications were prevented actively, and the peripheral nerves were protected. OUTCOMES Although most patients with anti-Yo-positive PCD do not improve after treatment, our patient significantly improved after receiving active and effective treatment.