Rheumatic manifestations of cancer

Taken together, the wide range of rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions that can appear in association with cancer emphasizes that rheumatic disease is a major component of the spectrum of paraneoplastic manifestations. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms by which neoplasia causes these manifestations are only partially understood in select cases, it appears that many result from immune-mediated effects stimulated by tumor antigens of endocrine factors produced by tumors. The broad overlap in signs and symptoms of occult malignancy and systemic rheumatic disease, as well as the occurrence of distinct localized and systemic musculoskeletal and rheumatic syndromes in the presence of cancer, emphasizes the importance of considering and investigating the possibility of occult malignancy in the evaluation of patients with these symptoms. This is particularly important in older patients, those with atypical rheumatic disease, and those who do not respond appropriately to conventional immunosuppressive therapy.