What to expect from paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system in uterine cancer: A review of the literature

Abstract

Neurological paraneoplastic syndromes are a rare subgroup of diseases commonly related to neuroendocrine tumors. However, they have been associated with uterine malignancies (sarcomas, endometrial carcinomas, and neuroendocrine cancers). Their presentation often correlates with a cancer diagnosis or cancer recurrence underlining their clinical significance. The most common neurological paraneoplastic syndrome in uterine cancer is cerebral degeneration with a comprehensive clinical presentation of pancerebral dysfunction. However, other neurological syndromes present with various symptoms leading to delayed diagnosis. Less common paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with uterine cancer are encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, subacute sensory neuropathy, sensory-motor neuropathy, dermatomyositis, cancer-associated retinopathy, opsoclonus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, necrotizing myopathy, and stiff-person syndrome. Herein, we reviewed published cases of neurological paraneoplastic syndromes in uterine cancer in order to raise awareness of these rare syndromes. We recorded patients’ clinical presentation, antibodies detected, treatment, and clinical outcomes.