Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis revealing a small cell carcinoma of the lung

Abstract Introduction Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is a rare disease, usually associated with small cell lung cancer. Case report We report in this publication the cases with different age brackets, who presented with various neurological symptoms such as repetitive seizures or anterograde amnesia. Cerebral CT-scan, cerebral MRI and anti onco-neural paraneoplastic antibodies were suggesting the diagnosis of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. Etiological exploration lead to the diagnosis of locally advanced small cell carcinoma of the lung. We started rapidly a curative protocol associating chemotherapy and sequential thoracic radiotherapy. Conclusions we insist on the diversity of the imaging findings, immunological analyses and outcome on treatment of this entity. Prognostic impact remains also unclear.