Simultaneous development of autoimmune disease and malignancy in two elderly patients

Two elderly patients who presented with symptoms of "systemic rheumatic or autoimmune disease" had high serum titers of fluorescent antinuclear antibody (ANA). Signs of malignancy were evident at the time of the first examination. T-cell dysfunction in the aged may permit the simultaneous development of autoimmunity and neoplasia. When rheumatic symptoms with a high titer of fluorescent ANA develop in elderly patients, an exhaustive search for malignancy should be considered.