Digital necrosis and lupus-like syndrome preceding ovarian carcinoma

Digital ischaemia as a presenting feature in metastatic ovarian cancer

A woman in her 50s presented with acute pain and discolouration in the fingertips of both hands, without other features of connective tissue disease. The history was otherwise significant for abdominal bloating, altered bowel habit, urinary urgency and fatigue. Inflammatory markers, antinuclear antibodies, serum protein electrophoresis and complement levels were all normal. The tumour marker CA125 was significantly elevated, prompting a CT abdomen and pelvis, which revealed a large right-sided adnexal mass with multiple enhancing peritoneal and omental nodules and moderate ascites, suggestive of disseminated primary ovarian cancer.Digital ischaemia (DI) can be associated with cancer in up to 15% of cases. An underlying cancer should be suspected in patients presenting with new or worsening symptoms of DI. Prompt treatment with anticancer therapies can achieve complete resolution of DI.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Ovarian Cancer

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be associated with various types of malignancy. However, SLE occurring with ovarian cancer seems rare, and reliable therapeutic approaches for such cases have yet to be identified. We herein report a case of SLE with ovarian cancer that was successfully treated with corticosteroid, plasmapheresis and chemotherapy. This case may provide new insights into treatment approaches for SLE with ovarian cancer.

Characteristics of 10 patients with paraneoplastic rheumatologic musculoskeletal manifestations

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the possible correlation of malignant neoplasms and paraneoplastic rheumatologic syndromes.

METHODS

We studied a series of 10 patients with paraneoplastic rheumatological syndromes collected from our Division of Rheumatic Disease between 2006 and 2012.

RESULTS

Our series consisted of four males and six females, with a mean age of 65.5 years (range, 57-78 years). Of the 10 patients recruited, six had hematological malignancies and four had solid cancers. Malignancies were diagnosed after rheumatic symptoms were reported in all patients. Compared to solid tumors, hemopathy was diagnosed at a later time point (16.2 vs. 7.3 months). Extra-articular symptoms were associated with rheumatologic musculoskeletal manifestations in 100% of the patients. Polyarthritis was the main rheumatologic musculoskeletal manifestation (50% of the patients). The other manifestations were oligopolyarthritis and polymyalgia rheumatic-like symptoms (20% of the patients). Symmetric arthritis was present in 60% of the patients, and the remaining patients developed asymmetric arthritis. Musculoskeletal manifestations completely regressed in 66.7% of the patients after cancer therapy. When tumor relapse was observed, rheumatic symptoms did not recur in any of our patients (100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Rheumatic disorders with atypical clinical presentation in older patients, poor response to usual treatment and systemic features such as weight loss and clinical findings compatible with well-recognized paraneoplastic syndromes should alert clinicians to the possible coexistence of an occult malignancy. Especially in cases of paraneoplastic rheumatic/musculoskeletal manifestations associated with hemopathy, the primary disease is unlikely to have manifested yet, making the diagnosis difficult. Thus, caution is required.

Rheumatic syndromes associated with malignancy

The relation between rheumatic syndromes and an underlying malignancy is a complex one. As a result of autoimmunity, an aberrant immune response, or the use of immunomodulatory drugs, many of the rheumatic diseases appear to pose an increased risk for the development of malignancy. Unfortunately, for many of the same reasons, the presence of an underlying malignancy can result in the development of features of rheumatic disease. Awareness of the associations between rheumatic syndromes and malignancy will aid the clinician in the accurate diagnosis of underlying pathology, more effective treatment of both the symptoms and underlying disease, and appropriate surveillance for the development of later complications.

Digital necrosis associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil

BACKGROUND

Digital necrosis is an uncommon paraneoplastic syndrome. Fewer than 50 cases have been sporadically reported through the literature over the last 30 years.

CASE REPORT

We describe the unfortunate case of a 62-year-old woman with a locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil. She was admitted to the hospital for symptomatic hypercalcemia and was found to have metastatic disease. She subsequently had digital necrosis develop. Despite numerous attempts to control the rapidly progressive ischemia, little objective evidence of response was noted. Her primary disease did not respond to palliative radiation, and her general condition rapidly deteriorated.

CONCLUSIONS

A review of the literature provided some insight into the possible etiology of this unique complication of malignancy. Unfortunately, the treatment options suggested were of limited value, because there was no discernible benefit with any directed treatment. A brief summary and discussion of the literature follows.