Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Excerpt

Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare disorders with complex systemic clinical manifestations from an occult malignancy causing an altered immune system. In other words, malignant cells do not directly manifest symptoms of metastasis. Instead, they generate autoantibodies, cytokines, hormones, or peptides that affect multiple organ systems such as neurological, dermatological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hematologic, and cardiovascular systems. Symptoms can manifest before or after the diagnosis of cancer. Therefore, clinicians must recognize these syndromes to promptly diagnose the occult malignancy and improve patient clinical outcomes.