MC Lau, CK Chow, CK Ma

Abstract

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is one of the differential diagnoses in acute cerebellar ataxia. This is caused by a paraneoplastic antibody, which irreversible damages the nervous system. It typically causes the triad of opsoclonus, ataxia and myoclonus. Our paper reports the case of an 8-year-old child with OMS correlated with a ganglioneuroblastoma. She presented with a subtle neurological symptom, cerebellar ataxia. Her symptoms then evolved into myoclonus and, later, urinary incontinence. She was given steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab with clinical improvement, although there was some residual neurological deficit. This demonstrates that early recognition with aggressive treatment of OMS is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the neurological system.