Limbic encephalitis

Background

• See also paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis
• Caused by inflammation (usually autoimmune) in the hippocampus and amygdala

Etiologies

• Paraneoplastic (most cases)
  • Small cell lung cancer (most common)
  • Breast cancer, testicular tumour, teratoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, thymoma
• Autoimmune

Clinical Manifestations

• Impaired short-term memory, anterograde amnesia, behavioural and psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, irritability, personality change, confusion, hallucinations), partial and seconary generalized seizures
• Typically develops over weeks or months but can develop within days in some cases
• In cases of a paraneoplastic etiology, neurological symptoms typically precede diagnosis of the cancer