Paraneoplastic Syndromes

Paraneoplastic syndromes feature clinical manifestations that are related to an underlying malignancy but are not due to direct tumor compression or invasion. They arise from tumor secretion of hormones, peptides, or cytokines, or from immune cross-reactivity between malignant and normal tissues. These syndromes may affect diverse organ systems, most notably endocrine, neurologic, dermatologic, rheumatologic, and hematologic. In some instances, the timely diagnosis of these conditions may lead to detection of an otherwise clinically occult tumor at an early and highly treatable stage. Because paraneoplastic syndromes often cause considerable morbidity, effective treatment can improve patient quality of life and survival.