Paraneoplastic Gastrointestinal Dysmotility: When to Consider and How to Diagnose

There is a well-recognized association between malignant tumors and paraneoplastic gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility. The detection of onconeural antibodies in a patient with suspected paraneoplastic GI dysmotility based on high-risk clinical features appears to be the most valuable diagnostic test and should prompt an aggressive search for an occult neoplasm. Management of paraneoplastic GI dysmotility syndromes is generally centered on treatment of the underlying malignancy along with conventional care of the GI dysmotility, nutritional support, and, occasionally, immunotherapy. Although rare, clinicians must be aware of the association between malignancy and GI dysmotility so that they know when to investigate for an underlying malignancy.