Paraneoplastic syndromes are conditions that occur in association with malignancy but not due to the local presence of malignant cells and not due to endogenous hormone production.
They are typically due to ectopic production of hormones by cancer cells (e.g. SIADH from small cell carcinoma, PTHrP from squamous cell carcinoma) or autoimmune reactions, although the exact mechanism remains elusive in some cases.
The common paraneoplastic syndromes are listed below. Conditions due to endogenous hormone production (eg. hypoglycaemia from insulinoma) are typically not included as paraneoplastic phenomenon as they are due to the normal function of the malignant cells.
Metabolic
Cancer Cachexia
Hypercalcaemia
Cushing's Syndrome
Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH
Carcinoid Syndrome
Haematological
Anaemia
Venous Thrombosis
Neuromuscular
Myasthenia Gravis
Lambert Eaton Syndrome
Most commonly seen in association with small cell lung cancer and much rarer than myasthenia gravis. It is due to autoantibodies directed against voltage gated calcium ion channels, which leads to impaired release of acetyl choline. Treatment of the underlying malignancy, symptomatic treatment with 3,4-DAP and immunotherapy are all treatment options.
Dermatomyositis
Paraneoplastic Encephalitis
Other
Clubbing
Fever
Links
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7: Special Oncology Topics
- 1: Reproductive Health and Cancer
- B: Tumour Markers
- C: Follow Up
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D: Familial Cancer
- BRCA 1 & 2
- Cowden Syndrome
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
- Familial Cutaneous Melanoma
- Li Fraumeni Syndrome
- Lynch Syndrome (Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer)
- MEN 1 and MEN 2
- Neurofibromatosis
- Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (Gorlin Syndrome)
- Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)
- E: Cytotoxic Therapies
- I: Paraneoplastic Syndromes
- J: Aetiology Of Cancer
- K: Paediatric Clinical Oncology