The Relationship Between Rheumatologic Disorders and Malignancies

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Aug;44(3):405-418. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

Abstract

A variety of conditions mimicking rheumatologic syndromes may be associated with an underlying malignancy. Therefore, distinguishing these syndromes from more common, nonparaneoplastic rheumatologic conditions can be perplexing. Some autoimmune conditions and the medications used for their management can be associated with increased future risk of malignancy. Some cancers can directly involve the musculoskeletal structures, whereas others present with systemic manifestations at sites away from the tumor and its metastases. Better awareness and timely recognition of these associations may lead to earlier cancer detection and, it is hoped, better long-term survival.

Keywords: Autoimmune; Fasciitis; Lymphoma; Malignancy; Mimics; Musculoskeletal; Paraneoplastic; Pitting edema.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmunity*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Humans
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / immunology
  • Rheumatic Diseases / diagnosis*