RT Book, Section A1 Amato, Anthony A. A1 Russell, James A. SR Print(0) ID 1115659172 T1 Neuropathies Associated with Malignancy T2 Neuromuscular Disorders, 2e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071752503 LK neurology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1115659172 RD 2024/03/29 AB Patients with malignancy can develop peripheral neuropathies as the result of (1) a direct effect of the cancer by invasion or compression of the nerves, (2) a remote or paraneoplastic effect including vasculitis, (3) a direct toxic effect of treatment, or (4) an alteration of immune status caused by immunosuppression (Table 19-1).1,2 It is difficult to estimate the frequency of polyneuropathy in patients with cancer because it is dependent on a number of factors including the type, stage, and location of the malignancy, as well as confounding variables such as malnutrition, the toxic effects of therapy, and the background incidence of neuropathy in this frequently older population. Nevertheless, some series indicate that 1.7–5.5% of patients with cancer have clinical symptoms or signs of a peripheral neuropathy, while neurophysiologic testing (quantitative sensory testing and nerve conduction studies [NCS]) demonstrates evidence of peripheral neuropathy in as many as 30–40% of patients with cancer.3 The most common associated malignancy is lung cancer, but neuropathies also complicate carcinoma of the breast, ovaries, stomach, colon, rectum, and other organs including the lymphoproliferative system.