Hyperexcitable Blink Reflex Preceding the Diagnosis of Neuroblastoma.

The diagnosis of neuroblastoma is sometimes preceded by development of a paraneoplastic syndrome, most commonly opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia (OMA). The authors describe a patient who developed a hyperexcitable blink reflex, without symptoms of OMA, prior to his oncologic diagnosis. The authors believe this may represent a distinct paraneoplastic process caused by increased dopaminergic stimulation of the blink reflex and suggest that children manifesting an unexplained hyperexcitable blink reflex should be screened for occult neuroblastoma.

Hyperexcitable blink reflex preceding the diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

The diagnosis of neuroblastoma is sometimes preceded by development of a paraneoplastic syndrome, most commonly opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia (OMA). The authors describe a patient who developed a hyperexcitable blink reflex, without symptoms of OMA, prior to his oncologic diagnosis. The authors believe this may represent a distinct paraneoplastic process caused by increased dopaminergic stimulation of the blink reflex and suggest that children manifesting an unexplained hyperexcitable blink reflex should be screened for occult neuroblastoma.