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Gastrointestinal tumors are among the most common neoplastic causes of death worldwide. Presence of characteristic skin lesions can allow faster diagnosis and therapy and this way can increase the probability of a cure. In the paper we present the most important paraneoplastic syndromes that can coexist with gastrointestinal malignancy including colon, gastric, esophagus and pancreatic cancers. We take into account genetic syndromes such as Cowden syndrome, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM) (melanoma/pancreatic cancer), Clarke Howel-Evans, Peutz-Jeghers, Muir-Torre, Gardner syndromes and acquired syndromes such as acantosis nigricans maligna, tripe palms, Leser-Trelat, Bazex, hypertrichosis languinosa, erythema gyratum repens, carcinoid and glucagonoma syndrome. We also include cutaneous metastases and coexistence of neoplasia in some cases of dermatomyositis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome induced by tumor produced phosphaturic factors, i.e. phosphatonins. The disorder is characterized by renal tubular phosphate loss, secondary to this process hypophosphatemia and defective production of active form of vitamin D. The clinical course of oncogenic osteomalacia is characterized by bone pain, pathological fractures, muscle weakness and general fatigue. Osteomalacia-associated tumors are usually located in the upper and lower limbs, with half of the lesions primarily situated in the bones. Most of them are small, slow-growing tumors. Their insignificant size and various location coupled with rare occurrence of the disease and non-specificity of clinical symptoms lead to difficulties in reaching a diagnosis, which is often time-consuming and requires a number of additional tests. The average time between the appearance of the first symptoms and the establishment of an accurate diagnosis and the beginning of treatment is over 2.5 years. The aim of this study is to discuss the pathophysiology of disease symptoms, pathomorphology of tumors, diagnostic methods and treatment of oncogenic osteomalacia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focused on pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) therapy with rituximab. Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 of B cells, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and malignant and nonmalignant plasma cell-dependent diseases. Pemphigus is a severe autoimmune blistering disorder caused by autoantibodies to desmoglein 1 and 3. The disease course is typically severe, potentially fatal prognosis disease, thus requiring multiple immunosuppressive agents. The treatment is still challenging and in some patients with recalcitrant disease therapies fail. It seems logic to use rituximab in the treatment for refractory or severe PV, PF and paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP). Up to day more than 130 patients with pemphigus vulgaris or foliaceus were treated with rituximab. The majority of patients received one course of rituximab with conventional immunosuppressive therapy as concomitant therapy. Successful rituximab therapy is reported in about 90% of cases. Rituximab is a promising treatment for pemphigus, but a long list of side effects can occur. The future clinical trials with rituximab are necessary to establish the new effective treatment for PV and PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of skin changes connected with neoplasm is important because it allows early treatment of the disease. Necrolytic migratory erythema is a paraneoplastic marker which in 80% of cases shows the presence of pancreatic cancer, originating from alpha cells which produce glucagon. The presence of the neoplasm is connected with weight loss, erythematous and vesicular skin changes of limbs, trunk and face as well as glossitis, cheilitis, diffuse alopecia and paronychia. There is usually mild diabetes with markedly increased level of glucagon, lower level of amino acids and zinc in the sera, anemia and increased sedimentation rate. In 42-year-old male patient erythematous skin changes, pustules, erosions and ecchymoses appeared 2 years ago and were localized on his face, trunk, genitalia and limbs. At first the diagnosis of disseminated eczema were made. After 2 years, on abdominal ultrasound examination metastases to liver were found and during laparotomy tuberous changes of pancreas were observed. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas with liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]