Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

ABSTRACT

Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis (PFPA) is an uncommon syndrome characterized by progressive and extensive rheumatic disease. We present the first example of PFPA in association with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and peritoneal carcinoma. A 54-year-old woman developed pain in both shoulders and flexion deformities of all fingers in both hands due to an increasing swelling of both palms. She underwent surgery and histologic examination of the removed uterus revealed squamous cell carcinoma, nonkeratinizing type with a small portion of undifferentiated carcinoma. Chemotherapy resulted in an excellent response, during which the arthritic symptoms improved gradually. PFPA can occur in a wide range of cancers and warrants extensive investigation for a malignant tumor.