Small cell lung cancer presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by recurrent episodic hypotension and bradycardia: case report.

ABSTRACT

A 56-year-old man presenting with a 6-month history of recurrent episodic hypotension and bradycardia was found to have limited-stage small cell lung cancer. During both quiescence and episodes of hemodynamic embarrassment, extensive evaluations were conducted. Possible explanations included the following intermittent great vessel obstruction; baroreceptor failure/hypersensitivity; and autonomic dysfunction. His clinical course favored an antibody-negative dysautonomic paraneoplastic syndrome.