Paraneoplastic syndrome (patient information)

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Paraneoplastic syndrome

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for (Condition)?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Paraneoplastic syndrome On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Paraneoplastic syndrome

Videos on Paraneoplastic syndrome

FDA on Paraneoplastic syndrome

CDC on Paraneoplastic syndrome

Paraneoplastic syndrome in the news

Blogs on Paraneoplastic syndrome

Directions to Hospitals Treating Paraneoplastic syndrome

Risk calculators and risk factors for Paraneoplastic syndrome


Template:WikiDoc Sources Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Gertrude Djouka, M.D.[2]

Overview

A paraneoplastic syndrome is a disease or symptom that is the consequence of the presence of cancer in the body, but is not due to the local presence of cancer cells. These phenomena are mediated by humoral factors (by hormones or cytokines) excreted by tumor cells or by an immune response against the tumor. Sometimes the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes show even before the diagnosis of a malignancy. A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of symptoms that are caused by a cancer. The symptoms happen in a different area of your body from your cancer.

Causes

What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes?

General symptoms

Skin symptoms

  • Skin flushing or blushing, causing your face, neck, or upper chest to become warm and red.

Neurologic (brain, spinal cord, and nerve) symptoms

  • Trouble using different parts of your body the way you want, such as your arms or legs
  • Double vision (when you see two of the same object) or being unable to control your eye movements

The cancer can cause these symptoms without pushing on your nerves or spinal cord.

Endocrine (hormone system) symptoms

  • Weakness
  • Weight gain
  • High blood pressure or heart valve problems
  • Confusion
  • Kidney problems
  • Red, warm skin
  • Wheezing
  • Diarrhea

Other symptoms

  • Muscle swelling that causes weakness and soreness
  • Painful swelling of your joints that may change the shape of your fingers and toes
  • Changes to your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)

Prognosis

  • There are no cures for paraneoplastic syndromes. The type and stage of the diagnosis of the cancer determine the prognosis.

Treatment

  • The tumor and cancer are treated first, followed by efforts to decrease the autoimmune response, either through steroids such as cortisone or prednisone, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin, or irradiation.
  • Plasmapheresis, a process that cleanses antibodies from the blood, may ease symptoms in people with paraneoplastic disorders that affect the peripheral nervous system.
  • Speech and physical therapy may help individuals regain some functions.

Sources