Can antibodies in serum predict the presence of microscopic tumors?
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
How can the mere presence of an antibody in serum predict a tumor when it is only microscopic? This is possible in patients with certain paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) as shown by Mathew et al.1 in this issue of Neurology.
Since the first description of antineuronal antibodies (anti-Hu) in 1984 by Posner et al., the association of a neurologic syndrome, an antineuronal antibody, and a microscopic or relatively biologically benign tumor have frequently been recognized.2
Mathew et al. describe six patients with anti-Ma2/Ta antibody whose clinical findings predicted a testicular tumor even though diagnostic tests had been negative. In the face of clinical progression, orchiectomy was performed and a microscopic tumor was identified.1
This article highlights several important clinical points.
The high specificity of well-defined antineuronal antibodies.
Anti-Ma2/Ta is indeed a highly specific marker for the presence …
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
- Article
- The high specificity of well-defined antineuronal antibodies.
- Determination of antineuronal antibodies requires two independent laboratory methods.
- Tumor diagnosis in PNS may be difficult.
- Anticipation phenomenon or causative role of immune reaction?
- Impressions for tumor immune therapy.
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Disclosures
Dr. Babak Hooshmand and Dr. David Smith
► Watch
Related Articles
Topics Discussed
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Article
Updated Diagnostic Criteria for Paraneoplastic Neurologic SyndromesFrancesc Graus, Alberto Vogrig, Sergio Muñiz-Castrillo et al.Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, May 18, 2021 -
Article
Clinical significance of Kelch-like protein 11 antibodiesEstibaliz Maudes, Jon Landa, Amaia Muñoz-Lopetegi et al.Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, January 17, 2020 -
Article
Long-term survival in paraneoplastic Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndromePaul Maddison, Paul Gozzard, Matthew J. Grainge et al.Neurology, March 01, 2017 -
Article
Increased frequency of anti-Ma2 encephalitis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitorsAlberto Vogrig, Marine Fouret, Bastien Joubert et al.Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, August 07, 2019