Paraneoplastic Syndromes of the Nervous System

Your healthcare provider will diagnose paraneoplastic syndromes with a medical history, physical exam and several tests.

• Neurological exam: Paraneoplastic syndromes often affect your nervous system, impacting your brain and muscle function. Your provider may ask you to perform specific tasks to check how your nervous system functions. They’ll want to judge any change in your abilities related to strength, memory and coordination.
• Imaging: Your provider may use imaging tests such as CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds to look for a tumor that may be causing symptoms.
• Blood tests: Blood tests can reveal suspicious findings that suggest a tumor or that confirm you have antibodies linked to paraneoplastic syndromes. Blood tests can also help your provider rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms, like an infection, a hormone disorder or a metabolic disorder.
• Spinal tap: In some instances, your provider may perform a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to test your cerebrospinal fluid for signs of antibodies attacking healthy cells. During a spinal tap, your provider inserts a needle into your lower back to withdraw a fluid sample. Later, your healthcare provider will test the liquid for antibodies.