Clinico-pathological evaluation of two patients presenting with the neuromyelitis optica syndrome

Abstract

The discovery of the Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) has expanded clinical spectrum of disorders associated with this antibody. It has also become clear that NMO can be a paraneoplastic manifestation of an underlying malignancy. We report on the pathological changes in the spinal cord in an NMO patient who underwent a biopsy for a suspected spinal tumour. We also present the findings in the testicular tumour of a patient who initially presented with NMO. In the first patient we demonstrate the loss of AQP4 staining and in the latter case we demonstrate the expression of AQP4 by tumour cells.

Keywords: Aquaporin 4 antibodies, NMO, paraneoplastic disorder