Paraneoplastic syndrome in primitive retroperitoneal tumours

Retroperitoneal tumours represent a particular oncological pathology. No other human pathology is so deceiving and scarce in specific clinical symptoms as these tumours. Usually borrowing the symptoms of nearby organs they are discovered in advanced or incurable stages.

We have tried to present to you the challenge of diagnosing some retroperitoneal tumours. One of the rarest signs was by far the paraneoplastic syndrome or the secretion of active biological substances. The study group is composed of histopatologically diagnosed patients. The vast majority were selected from urology and general surgery wards, but there were cases from gynaecology, neurosurgery and even from endocrinology and gastroenterology.

Paraneroplastic syndrome represents the secretion of various substances by the tumour, substances that make changes at bioumoral level. In our study we found 3 cases of 32 patients (9,37%) with paraneoplastic syndrome. What is to be noticed is that because of this syndrome the diagnosis was more difficult and was indirectly referred to a retroperitoneal tumour. We would like to present these cases and their particularities.

Every case was a surgical and diagnostic challenge. Biologic active substance secretion or the paraneoplastic syndrome makes the clinical picture even more complicated for primitive retroperitoneal tumours. The clinical symptoms of these tumours require a more careful approach of these patients. Close co-operation with other medical specialties in cases such as ours is mandatory.