Paraneoplastic musculoskeletal disorders: review and update for radiologists

Skeletal Radiol. 2023 Mar;52(3):421-433. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04074-w. Epub 2022 May 23.

Abstract

Rheumatic paraneoplastic syndromes are rare syndromes that occur at distant sites from the underlying tumor and may involve the bones, joints, fasciae, muscles, or vessels. In the absence of a known tumor, early recognition of a rheumatic syndrome as paraneoplastic permits dedicated work-up for, and potentially early treatment of an occult malignancy. Although there is a continuously growing list of paraneoplastic rheumatic disorders, not all of these disorders have a well-established association with a neoplastic process. The goals of this article are to review the clinical characteristics, diagnostic work-up, and imaging findings of well-documented rheumatic paraneoplastic disorders.

Keywords: Cancer-associated myositis; Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy; Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis; Pancreatic panniculitis and polyarthritis; Paraneoplastic polyarthritis; Remitting seronegative symmetric synovitis with pitting edema; Rheumatic paraneoplastic syndromes; Tumor-induced osteomalacia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasms* / complications
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes* / complications
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes* / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiologists
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / complications
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Rheumatic Diseases* / therapy
  • Synovitis* / complications