Paraneoplastic paralysis in a patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

A patient presented with lower limb paralysis and a large malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) on her back. Metastatic disease to the spine was excluded and the diagnosis of paraneoplastic paralysis was made. This may be the first described case of a neuromyopathic paraneoplastic syndrome in malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Tissue culture and electron microscopy assisted in establishing the diagnosis of the tumour. A hitherto unrecognised endocrine factor may account for the hypokalaemia which was a feature in this patient.