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Hyperkalemia as a manifestation of paraneoplastic syndrome in esophageal cancer: a case report

https://doi.org/10.25789/YMJ.2026.93.29

Abstract

Paraneoplastic syndromes are clinical manifestations associated with malignant neoplasms that are not directly related to local tumor growth or metastatic spread. They may significantly complicate diagnosis and treatment planning in cancer patients. Paraneoplastic syndromes are most commonly described in lung, breast, and pancreatic cancers, whereas such manifestations are extremely rare in esophageal cancer. This article presents a clinical case of esophageal adenocarcinoma complicated by persistent hyperkalemia, regarded as a manifestation of a paraneoplastic syndrome. The electrolyte disturbance was resistant to medical correction, which made standard chemotherapy and surgical treatment impossible. External beam radiotherapy to the primary tumor and regional lymphatic pathways was used as the first stage of treatment, resulting in normalization of serum potassium levels. This allowed subsequent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgical intervention, achieving a complete pathological response. The presented case highlights the importance of recognizing paraneoplastic electrolyte disorders in esophageal cancer and demonstrates the significance of an individualized treatment approach in patients with atypical disease course.

About the Authors

D. N. Kostromitskiy
Научно-исследовательский институт онкологии, ФГБНУ «Томский национальный исследовательский медицинский центр Российской академии наук»
Russian Federation


A. Yu. Dobrodeev
Научно-исследовательский институт онкологии, ФГБНУ «Томский национальный исследовательский медицинский центр Российской академии наук»
Russian Federation


D. P. Koval
ФГБОУ ВО «Сибирский государственный медицинский университет» Минздрава России
Russian Federation


S. G. Afanasyev
Научно-исследовательский институт онкологии, ФГБНУ «Томский национальный исследовательский медицинский центр Российской академии наук»
Russian Federation


A. S. Tarasova
Научно-исследовательский институт онкологии, ФГБНУ «Томский национальный исследовательский медицинский центр Российской академии наук»
Russian Federation


S. V. Vtorushin
Научно-исследовательский институт онкологии, ФГБНУ «Томский национальный исследовательский медицинский центр Российской академии наук»; ФГБОУ ВО «Сибирский государственный медицинский университет» Минздрава России
Russian Federation


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Review

For citations:


Kostromitskiy D.N., Dobrodeev A.Yu., Koval D.P., Afanasyev S.G., Tarasova A.S., Vtorushin S.V. Hyperkalemia as a manifestation of paraneoplastic syndrome in esophageal cancer: a case report. Yakut Medical Journal. 2026;(1):136-140. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25789/YMJ.2026.93.29

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ISSN 1813-1905 (Print)
ISSN 2312-1017 (Online)