Diagnostic testing in a possible paraneoplastic syndrome depends on the symptoms and the suspected underlying cancer. Diagnosis may be difficult in patients in whom paraneoplastic antibodies cannot be detected. In the absence of these antibodies, other tests that may be helpful include MRI, PET, lumbar puncture and electrophysiology.
Types A specifically devastating form of (neurological) paraneoplastic syndromes is a group of disorders classified as
paraneoplastic neurological disorders (PNDs). These PNDs affect the central or peripheral nervous system; some are degenerative, though others (such as
LEMS) may improve with treatment of the condition or the tumor. Symptoms of PNDs may include
difficulty with walking and balance,
dizziness,
rapid uncontrolled eye movements, difficulty swallowing, loss of
muscle tone, loss of fine
motor coordination, slurred speech, memory loss, vision problems, sleep disturbances,
dementia,
seizures, and sensory loss in the limbs. The most common cancers associated with PNDs are breast, ovarian, and lung cancers, but many other cancers can produce paraneoplastic symptoms, as well. The root cause is extremely difficult to identify for paraneoplastic syndrome, as there are so many ways the disease can manifest (which may eventually lead to cancer). Ideas may relate to age-related diseases (unable to handle environmental or physical stress in combination with
genetic pre-dispositions), accumulation of damaged biomolecules (damages signaling pathways in various regions of the body), increased oxygen
free radicals in the body (alters metabolic processes in various regions of the body), etc. . However,
prophylactic efforts include routine checks with physicians (particularly those that specialize in neurology and oncology) especially when a patient notices subtle changes in his or her own body. ==Treatment==