Journal of Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis

Abstract

Cancerogenesis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Manzo C

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is considered the commonest inflammatory rheumatic disease in the elderly. The presence of constitutional symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, anorexia, weight loss and fever are common (in association with the typical PMR manifestations) and their association with very elevated inflammatory markers (for example erythrocyte sedimentation rate-ESR> 100 mm/hour or high C-reactive protein) may raise suspicion of a neoplasm. On the other hand, the relationship between PMR and cancer is still complex and data available from literature are contradictory. The association (or not) with giant-cell arteritis (GCA), the cumulative dosage of corticosteroids, the serum levels of C-reactive protein, the presence or not of RS3PE syndrome can represent important variables. In this review we perform a systematic electronic search of Medline and PubMed for evaluation of relationship between cancer and PMR, and present the more significant data.