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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffParaneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are a group of rare disorders that develop in some people with cancer, most commonly in people with lung, breast or ovarian cancer. Some of these disorders are believed to occur when cancer-fighting antibodies mistakenly attack normal cells in the nervous system.
Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are rare, occurring in less than 1 percent of the people who have cancer.
Symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system usually appear when cancer is still in its early stages, often before you even know you have cancer. Treatment of the cancer may eliminate the symptoms of a paraneoplastic syndrome. In some cases, your immune system may need to be suppressed.
- NINDS paraneoplastic syndromes information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paraneoplastic/paraneoplastic.htm. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Dalmau J, et al. Overview of paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Dalmau J, et al. Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes. In: Abeloff MD. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/105634268-6/752143375/1709/56.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50055-5--cesec11_1589. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Baehring JM, et al. Paraneoplastic syndromes. In: Goetz CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/105634268-6/752143375/1488/400.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10047-5--s0390_4036. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Dalmau J, et al. Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting brain and cranial nerves. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Dalmau J, et al. Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting peripheral nerve and muscle. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- NINDS Isaac's syndrome information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/Isaacs_syndrome/Isaacs_syndrome.htm. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Dalmau J, et al. Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Facts about plasmapheresis. Muscular Dystrophy Association. http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-plasmaph.html. Accessed Sept. 25, 2008.
- Immunoglobulins. In: Hoffman R, et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/105713502-5/752486086/1267/326.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06628-0..50046-8--cesec21_1454. Accessed Sept. 26, 2008.
