Chemo for Ovarian Cancer May Prevent Paraneoplastic Encephalitis

DOCTORS here have come up with a treatment approach for a rare condition associated with tumours in the ovary, and have recommended it as the way to go in a scientific journal.

The condition, known as paraneoplastic encephalitis, is an acute inflammation of the brain which sets in when an ovarian cancer triggers the patient's over-active immune system to attack the brain.

The patient may then suffer from fits, confusion or have memory problems. Left untreated, permanent and severe brain damage or death can result.

Doctors here recommend that chemotherapy be considered as one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer in patients showing symptoms of paraneoplastic encephalitis.

From treating five such cases here, they have found that chemotherapy seems to prevent the immune system from attacking the brain.

This is a departure from the traditional practice of removing ovarian tumours through surgery only, preferred because chemotherapy given to a woman of reproductive age can cause infertility.

- straits times.