Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome associated with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome is a rare, disabling, paraneoplastic condition of unknown pathogenesis. There is no known effective treatment, although the condition may be halted by control of the cancer. Previously reported cases have mostly been in patients with advanced ovarian malignancies. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with this condition in association with bladder carcinoma, together with a review of the literature and discussion of possible therapeutic options.

Abbreviations used: CTGF, connective tissue growth factor, PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor, PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, TGF-β, transforming growth factor beta