Doctors call this paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis as the tumour (neoplasm) affects the brain from a distance, via the immune system. In many cases, PLE can be diagnosed by testing for one of paraneoplastic autoantibodies in the patient's blood and spinal fluid.

What are the symptoms of limbic encephalitis?

A variety of symptoms may be associated with limbic encephalitis such as anterograde amnesia (the inability to store new memories after the onset of the condition), anxiety, depression, irritability, personality change, acute confusional state, hallucinations and seizures .

How long does limbic encephalitis last?

The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 11 months (range 5 days-2 years). The most common symptom at presentation was short-term memory impairment in 7 patients followed by seizures in 5 and behavioral changes in three.