Paraneoplastic isolated brainstem encephalitis

Definition

A rare autoimmune encephalitis characterized by various phenotypes depending on the region of the brainstem that is involved; patients are present with gaze palsies (in midbrain involvement), facial palsy or vertical gaze palsies (in pontine involvement), dysarthira, dysphagia or central hypoventilation (in medullary involvement). Additional clinical features may also involve pyramidal symptoms and gait impairment.