Paraneoplastic syndrome

Paraneoplastic syndrome refers to a group of disorders caused by the immune response to neoplasms, leading to systemic effects that are not directly related to the local presence of the tumour. Recognising these syndromes is crucial in clinical practice, as they can precede cancer diagnosis and may significantly impact patient management. A key example is hypercalcaemia associated with squamous cell lung carcinoma, which can lead to severe complications like renal failure.