Neoplastic and Paraneoplastic Synovitis

Malignant disease often needs to be considered in the initial evaluation of patients with synovitis. Cancer can affect the synovium directly, either as a primary tumor or as a metastasis. In addition, arthritis can also occur as a remote nonmetastatic effect of the tumor (paraneoplastic phenomenon). This article describes the various types of arthritis that can be seen in association with malignancy and the clinical approach to the diagnosis and management of cancer-related synovitis.