Rhabdomyolysis after ERCP in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a paraneoplastic phenomenon?
[BACKGROUND] Paraneoplastic myopathies are rare complications of malignancy, most often associated with lung, ovarian, and gastrointestinal cancers.
APA
Aljunaidi R, Qafisheh Q, et al. (2026). Rhabdomyolysis after ERCP in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a paraneoplastic phenomenon?. Oxford medical case reports, 2026(3), omag019. https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omag019
MLA
Aljunaidi R, et al.. "Rhabdomyolysis after ERCP in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a paraneoplastic phenomenon?." Oxford medical case reports, vol. 2026, no. 3, 2026, pp. omag019.
PMID
41878595
Abstract
[BACKGROUND] Paraneoplastic myopathies are rare complications of malignancy, most often associated with lung, ovarian, and gastrointestinal cancers. Rhabdomyolysis as a paraneoplastic manifestation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is exceedingly uncommon and typically portends a poor prognosis.
[CASE PRESENTATION] We describe an 80-year-old male with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma who developed fulminant rhabdomyolysis shortly after endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP with biliary stent placement. Laboratory studies showed CPK levels > 66 000 U/l and serum myoglobin > 40 000 ng/ml, leading to acute kidney injury and multiorgan failure despite aggressive fluid resuscitation, corticosteroids, CRRT, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Autoimmune and paraneoplastic serologies were unrevealing. The patient died on hospital day five.
[CONCLUSION] The rapid onset of rhabdomyolysis following ERCP raises the possibility that tumor manipulation or antigenic exposure may serve as an immune trigger for paraneoplastic muscle injury.
[CASE PRESENTATION] We describe an 80-year-old male with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma who developed fulminant rhabdomyolysis shortly after endoscopic ultrasound and ERCP with biliary stent placement. Laboratory studies showed CPK levels > 66 000 U/l and serum myoglobin > 40 000 ng/ml, leading to acute kidney injury and multiorgan failure despite aggressive fluid resuscitation, corticosteroids, CRRT, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Autoimmune and paraneoplastic serologies were unrevealing. The patient died on hospital day five.
[CONCLUSION] The rapid onset of rhabdomyolysis following ERCP raises the possibility that tumor manipulation or antigenic exposure may serve as an immune trigger for paraneoplastic muscle injury.