Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Encephalitis Complication of Breast Carcinoma: A Case Report

Paraneoplastic autoimmune encephalitis is a rare and poorly understood complication of cancer. The identification of key anti-onco-neuronal antibodies, such as anti-Ma1/anti-Ma2, plays a crucial role in guiding the diagnosis. We report the case of a 75-year-old female patient diagnosed with metastatic breast carcinoma, who developed paraneoplastic autoimmune encephalitis. The diagnosis was confirmed through cerebral MRI and the detection of positive anti-oncogenic neuronal antibodies. Treatment primarily focuses on managing the underlying cancer, alongside immunomodulatory treatments. In our case, despite the initiation of corticosteroid therapy, the disease progressed rapidly, ultimately leading to the patient’s death.