Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Celiac disease presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome in a patient with synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Haddad L, Amsterdam A, Chi DS

State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA.

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. CASE: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Published 2 May 2005 in Gynecol Oncol, 97(2): 704-6.
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