title: Neurological signs in relation to cancer in patients with asbestosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To chart the subtle neurological abnormalities in patients with asbestosis relative to possible development of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1979-81 a standardised neurological examination was made of 115 patients with asbestosis who carried a high risk of occupational cancer and their cancer morbidity was analysed 15 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slight disturbances of unknown aetiology were found in the central nervous system (CNS) of 33 and in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of 41 patients. Of these 17 had disturbances of both the CNS and PNS. This cohort was followed up to the end of 1994. During this time 47 of the patients developed cancer. Statistical analyses showed that disturbances of the CNS such as psycho-organic syndrome, cerebellar dysfunction, and motor disturbances of unknown origin were significantly associated with cancer, whereas no such association was found for peripheral neuropathy. Interaction between the radiological progression of asbestosis and disturbances of the CNS was an even stronger predictor of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that slight disturbances of the CNS are predictors of development of cancer. Whether or not these disturbances are manifestations of involvement of a paraneoplastic nervous system or some factor associated with progression of asbestosis remains open.
authors.affiliation: LEL Employment Pension Fund, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juntunen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oksa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pukkala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laippala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies