What is carcinomatous polyarthritis?
Polyarthritis rarely (<2%) presents in close temporal relationship (<1 year) to a diagnosis of cancer and may be associated with a variety of malignancies. Carcinomatous polyarthritis should be strongly suspected in a patient with the following features: explosive onset of an asymmetric oligoarthritis or polyarthritis; late age of onset; predominant lower extremity involvement; spares the wrists and small hand joints; and absence of rheumatoid factor, erosions, or rheumatoid nodules. Radiographs are normal and do not show periosteal reaction. Arthritis symptoms improve with successful treatment of the malignancy.
