Hodgkin’s lymphoma associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration in children: a case report and review of the literature

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) can occur severely and appear as subacute cerebellar syndrome. PCD may be associated with small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian carcinoma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. An 11-year-old male was admitted with acute cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, and diplopia. Mediastinal conglomerated lymph nodes were depicted in a chest computed tomography (CT) examination, and diagnosis of stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma was obtained after a lymph node biopsy. The antibodies against Purkinje cells (anti-Tr antibody) were positive immunohistochemically. Thus, paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration depending on Hodgkin’s disease was diagnosed. Despite the completion of chemotherapy, neurological recovery was not observed in the patient and plasmapheresis with immunoadsorption, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was performed. Truncal ataxia, gait disturbance, and tremors decreased. Consequently, we thought that plasmapheresis with the immunoadsorption method and IVIG therapy might be a treatment option for cerebellar ataxia caused by a mechanism of immune ancestry.