Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Patients with Keratinocyte Skin Cancer
1
Division of Skin and Venereal Diseases, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
2
Dermatology Clinic, General University Hospital of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Present address: Private Praxis, 45221 Ioannina, Greece.
Cancers 2022, 14(1), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14010249
Submission received: 12 October 2021
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Revised: 25 December 2021
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Accepted: 2 January 2022
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Published: 4 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Keratinocyte Carcinomas: Biology and Evolving Non-Invasive Management Paradigms)
Simple Summary
The aim of the present review is to compile and evaluate the literature data on paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) associated with keratinocyte skin cancer (KSC). Forty relevant entries were assembled, reporting a total of 41 PNS cases associated with a KSC (34 male). No review paper compiling this topic was found. Six distinct PNS entities were identified, and malignancy associated hypercalcemia (MAH; 78%), anemia (10%) and Bazex syndrome (5%) were the most frequently reported among them. 85% of the PNS were reported in association with SCC, 10% with BCC, and the rest with adnexal tumors. The median age of the patients at the time of PNS diagnosis was 58 years (range: five–83 years). KSC predisposing conditions, as scars (22%) or hidradenitis suppurativa (20%), were reported in >70% of the PNS cases. In conclusion, PNS are rarely reported in association with KSC, possibly reflecting a limited capacity of KSC to provoke overt PNS.
Abstract
A variety of well-characterized cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) are diagnosed during internal malignancies; however, the spectrum of keratinocyte skin neoplasms (KSC) related to PNS is still obscure. The aim of the present review is to compile and evaluate the literature data on PNS associated with a keratinocyte skin neoplasm (KSC). Employing Pubmed, MEDLINE was searched for KSC-associated PNS reports. Forty relevant entries were assembled, reporting a total of 41 PNS cases associated with a KSC (34 male). No review paper compiling this topic was found. Six distinct PNS entities were identified, and malignancy associated hypercalcemia (MAH; 78%), anemia (10%) and Bazex syndrome (5%) were the most frequently reported among them. 85% of the PNS were reported in association with SCC, 10% with BCC, and the rest with adnexal tumors. The median age of the patients at the time of PNS diagnosis was 58 years (range: five–83 years). In most cases the PNS was diagnosed either concurrently or after the KSC diagnosis. KSC predisposing conditions, as scars (22%) or hidradenitis suppurativa (20%), were reported in >70% of the PNS cases. Most PNS resolved after KSC treatment. In conclusion, PNS of a rather limited spectrum of entities are reported in association with KSC. They also seem to be rare, possibly reflecting a limited capacity of KSC to provoke overt PNS.
