¹Rachana KC, ²Jaya Satyal, ³Pradeep KC, ⁴Avinash Chandra

¹Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China, First Teaching Hospital of TUTCM, National Clinical Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China.

²Central Ayurveda Hospital, Nardevi, Kathmandu, Nepal.

³Ministry of Health, Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.

⁴NAMS, BIR Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Corresponding Author: Rachana KC, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China, First Teaching Hospital of TUTCM, Tianjin, China, National Clinical Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China. 

Citation: Rachana KC, Jaya Satyal, Pradeep KC, Avinash Chandra (2025). Integrative Treatment Approaches for Para-Neoplastic Neurological Syndrome: A Case Study on the Efficacy of Shirodhara and Acupuncture. American J Case Rep Clin Imag. 2025; September, 3(1),1-4.

Copyrights © 2025, Rachana KC. et al., This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-4.0-International-License-(CCBY-NC) (https://americanjournalofcasereports.com/blogpage/copyright-policy). Usage and distribution for commercial purposes require written permission.

Background

Para-neoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) refers to a group of rare neurological disorders resulting from an immune system response to an underlying malignancy, typically a tumor [1]. The term "para-neoplastic" was first introduced by Guichard and Vignon in 1949 [2]. In PNS, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal nervous system tissues, leading to various neurological symptoms. Darnell RB and C.R.B, et al., study show that PNS affect different parts of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system, and muscles [18,19]. The first description of PNS is found in the 19th century (1890), when French physician M. Auche described the involvement of the peripheral nervous system in cancer patients [3]. In PNS, the neurological symptoms are not caused by direct tumor invasion or metastasis into the nervous system. Instead, the immune response is triggered by the presence of the tumor and the abnormal expression of certain proteins or antigens shared by both the tumor cells and the nervous system. That’s why PNS is often severe, disabling, and sometimes lethal. Usually, PNS presents with multiple clinical manifestations such as encephalitis, autonomic failure, peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, visual complaints, and others. Diagnosis of PNS is challenging because many symptoms are nonspecific, and there is no single test that confirms this condition. However, a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging studies such as MRI, CT, or PET-CT scans, electroencephalograms (EEG), and laboratory tests including antibody testing and cerebrospinal fluid testing helps to diagnose PNS. Also, detecting specific auto-antibodies in the blood serum or cerebrospinal fluid can provide clues to the underlying tumor type.

In this case report, we want to show the effectiveness of Acupuncture and Shirodhara in reducing the severity of neurological symptoms of the PNS disease and reporting the outcome.

Keyword: Acupuncture, Para-neoplastic neurological syndrome, Traditional Chinese Medicine.