Whole-body computed tomography as first-line imaging procedure to exclude cancer in patients with neurological suspicion of paraneoplastic syndromes: shall clinical practice adhere to recommendations?

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the efficacy of whole-body computed tomography (WB-CT) as imaging procedure to exclude cancer in patients with neurological symptoms and signs at clinical onset.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was designed to identify consecutive WB-CT requested by the Neurology Unit with a suspicion of an underlying tumor potentially linked to a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) between January 2019 and February 2022. The following data were collected: diagnosis at admission and at discharge, the presence of onconeural antibodies, the scans dose length product (DLP), the estimated effective dose (ED), the total estimated time requested; the PNS-Care-Score was retrospectively calculated only in subjects with available antibodies.

Results: The total number of patients included was 158. In 13/158 (positive group) a malignant or locally aggressive neoplasm was found while in 145/158 no malignant lesions were found on the WB-CT. Among the positive group, in 7/13 onconeural antibodies were diagnosed, resulting negative in all cases and the most frequent tumor was lung cancer (30.8%). PNS-Care-Score was of 6-7 in 2/7 (probable PNS) and in no case the PNS-Care-Score was ≥8 (definite PNS). The mean DLP for all the scans was 2798 ± 952 mGy cm (average estimated ED of 42 ± 14 mSv). The total estimated time requested for all scans was 11,060 min.

Conclusion: If a PNS is suspected, we encourage the prescription of unenhanced chest CT and/or abdomen/testis/female pelvis ultrasound and/or mammography based on clinical picture. The WB-CT using a single portal phase would be appropriate as a second-line technique while magnetic resonance imaging might be indicated for the exclusion of nervous system diseases.

Implications for practice: Our suggestion results in saving in terms of radiation exposure, financial resources and time.

Keywords: Appropriateness; Cancer screening; Full-body computed tomography; PNS; Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome; WB-CT.