American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is most commonly associated with which type of tumors?

Colon tumors
Small cell lung cancer and other specific tumors
Pancreatic tumors
Skin tumors

The correct answer is: Small cell lung cancer and other specific tumors

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis is primarily associated with small cell lung cancer and certain other specific tumors, particularly testicular cancer, as well as some lymphomas. This condition arises due to the immune response to these malignancies, which can result in the production of antibodies that mistakenly target neuronal tissues, particularly in the limbic system of the brain. Symptoms can include memory deficits, seizures, and alterations in behavior and mood, reflective of the affected brain regions. The strong association with small cell lung cancer comes from the specific type of autoantibodies that can be produced, such as anti-CRMP-5 (anti-CV2) antibodies, which are frequently linked with this cancer. While other tumors can cause paraneoplastic syndromes, the link between limbic encephalitis and small cell lung cancer is particularly well-studied and documented in the medical literature. Hence, option B is the correct answer, highlighting the specific relationship between paraneoplastic syndromes and these tumors.