Paraneoplastic endocrine-metabolic syndromes

• Main Authors: Marco Grandi, Carla Sacchetti, Stefano Pederzoli, Cinzia Torri, Ilaria Sgarbi, Giovanni Partesotti, Massimiliano Nicolini, Chiara Casarini, Elena Romagnani, Chiara Benatti, Federica Vecchi, Claudio Gollini, Bruno Manni, Giacinto Sirotti, Maria Ernesta Leone, Rita Pasqualini, Antonio Pedrazzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2013-04-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Medicine
• Subjects: Endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes; Hypercalcemia; Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein (PTHrP); Inappropriate; Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH); Paraneoplastic; Cushing’s sindrome.
• Online Access: http://www.italjmed.org/index.php/ijm/article/view/244
• ISSN: 1877-9344; 1877-9352

BACKGROUND The paraneoplastic syndromes (PS) are characterized by the presence of biochemical alterations, signs and symptoms expressive of cancer distance action into the patient’s organism. Sometimes these syndromes can precede the evidence of malignancy even of some years or can correspond to cancer relapse. PS, even being characterized by general symptoms (fever, anorexia, cachexia), may occur with neurological, rheumathological, osteoarticular, vascular, haematological, nephrological and endocrinological/metabolic symptoms; the latter ones are discussed in this article. <br />AIM OF THE STUDY Here we will focus on the most common PS: paraneoplastic hypercalcemia, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and paraneoplastic Cushing syndrome. <br />CONCLUSIONS Our work can be useful in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of paraneoplastic syndromes.