Neurological manifestations of malignant disease
| 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; PML, progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy; SIADH, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion. | ||
| ▸ Direct effects of cancer | ||
| Primary tumours | Primary brain and spinal cord tumours | |
| Direct infiltration | Paraspinal tumours, e.g. sarcoma | |
| Pancoast tumours—T1 radiculopathy | ||
| Nasopharyngeal cancer—cranial nerve palsies | ||
| Metastases | Epidural spinal cord compression | |
| Cerebral metastases | ||
| Leptomeningeal metastases | ||
| Skull vault metastases | ||
| ▸ Indirect effects of cancer | ||
| Paraneoplastic neurological disorders | ||
| Toxic/metabolic encephalopathies, e.g. SIADH | ||
| Coagulopathies, e.g. venous sinus thrombosis | ||
| ▸ Effects of cancer treatments | ||
| Surgery | Nerve palsies | |
| Radiotherapy | Early and delayed encephalopathy | |
| Radiation myelopathy | ||
| Radiation plexopathy | ||
| Chemotherapy | Encephalopathy, e.g. methotrexate | |
| Cerebellar syndrome, e.g. 5-FU | ||
| Peripheral neuropathy, e.g. vincristine | ||
| Steroid psychosis and myopathy | ||
| ▸ Opportunistic infections | Caused by underlying cancer | Lymphoma—PML |
| Caused by cancer treatment | Fungal infections | |