title: Migratory polyarthritis as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
abstract: Carcinomatous polyarthritis (CP) is a rare paraneoplastic disorder that has been associated with a variety of solid tumors. It presents in a similar manner to other polyarticular disorders and often precedes detection of the underlying malignancy, making recognition critical. CP responds to the treatment of the neoplastic process. We present a patient who initially presented with asymmetric inflammatory polyarthritis who was later diagnosed with bronchogenic carcinoma. Following the case report we present our learning objectives, which include the differential diagnosis of inflammatory polyarthritis, diagnostic approach to CP, and features that distinguish it from other more common causes of polyarthritis. We conclude with a brief discussion of the pathophysiology and management of CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine/Psychiatry, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794, USA. mzupancic@siumed.edu
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zupancic
authors.forename: Ani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annamalai
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brenneman
authors.forename: Sriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranatunga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*