title: Celiac disease presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome in a patient with synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Celiac disease is characterized by gluten intolerance and commonly manifests with unexplained diarrhea, abdominal distention and weight loss. Infrequently, patients present with vague, non-specific symptoms which often delay diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 52-year-old female with a history of synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers, previously treated with surgical resection, staging and pelvic irradiation, presented with progressive paresthesias in her extremities. Extent of disease work-up was unremarkable. Neurologic evaluation suggested celiac disease which was later proven by duodenal biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of new or worsening neurologic symptoms in the cancer patient requires a thorough evaluation especially to exclude metastatic disease and/or paraneoplastic syndromes. Once neoplastic processes are excluded, celiac disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained neurologic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amsterdam
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000150:complications*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis