paraneoplastic syndromes
Last reviewed 01/2018
Paraneoplastic syndromes are symptom complexes, occurring in patients with cancer, which cannot be explained by:
- the tumour
- metastases
- the hormones which are normally secreted by the tissue within which the tumour arose
Paraneoplastic syndromes are seen in about 10% of patients with advanced malignant disease.
It is important to diagnose a paraneoplastic syndrome because:
- it may be the first presentation of an occult neoplasm
- it may pose significant clinical problems
- it may confound diagnosis and treatment