Palm Reading Might Help Diagnose Cancer - Thickening Palms Might Be Linked To Underlying Malignancy

Main Category: Dermatology
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Ovarian Cancer
Article Date: 14 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

A paper in this issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine discusses how thickening of the palms can in some cases be an indication of underlying malignancy - in particular, ovarian tumours. This palmar fasciitis or fibrosis - where the tissue on the palms feels hard, almost wooden - sometimes occurs in conjunction with polyarthritis (where multiple joints become arthritic). The syndrome appears to be more commonly associated with ovarian cancer - which is often difficult to detect in its early stages.

"Ovarian cancer continues to account for 5% of cancer related deaths among women," says author Dr Richard Stratton, a consultant physician at the Royal Free in London. "This case highlights the tendency of ovarian cancer to remain clinically hidden until an advanced stage. The syndrome of PFPAS (palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis), although rare, is important for clinicians to recognise because of its strong association with underlying malignancy, most commonly ovarian."

"Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome - a sign of ovarian malignancy" by Dr Richard Stratton et al is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

The JRSM is the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. It has full editorial independence of the RSM. It has been published continuously since 1809.

About The Royal Society of Medicine

The Royal Society of Medicine is an independent, apolitical organisation, founded over 200 years ago.

We are one of the largest providers of continuing medical education in the UK.

We provide accredited courses for continuing professional development, which is so vital in allowing doctors, dentists, veterinary surgeons and other healthcare professionals their continuing freedom to practise.

Our aims are:

-- to provide a broad range of educational activities and opportunities for doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons, including students of these disciplines, and for allied healthcare professionals.

-- to promote an exchange of information and ideas on the science, practice and organisation of medicine, both within the health professions and with responsible and informed public opinion.

We receive no state funding to carry out our core work and are dependent on generous donations and legacies.

http://www.rsm.ac.uk

• Additional
• References
• Citations