PARANEOPLASTIC NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Paraneoplastic syndromes are a set of signs and symptoms associated with the cancerous process that are not related to the physical effects of the tumor, that is, local and metastatic effects. It is estimated that paraneoplastic neurological disorders are present in 1% of patients with tumors worldwide, covering both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Objective: List the main paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, addressing their clinical manifestations and pathophysiological aspects. Method: Integrative review carried out between May and June 2024 on publications of original scientific articles found in the electronic databases BVS, LILACS, GOOGLE ACADÊMICO, PUBMED and SciELO, in Spanish, English and Portuguese, using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 133 articles were obtained, of which 126 were excluded after reading the title, abstract and full text, leaving 7 articles to compose this review. Studies have shown that subacute cerebellar degeneration is the most common of neurological paraneoplasms, with the production of hormones, peptides, cytokines or cross-immunological reactions between healthy and tumor tissues being involved in its pathophysiological mechanisms. Conclusion: Neurological manifestations in the form of paraneoplastic syndromes, although rare, assume particular importance when they occur as the first manifestation of an unknown tumor, allowing the diagnosis of a neoplasm at an early stage.