IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH RECTAL-CARCINOMA - A PARANEOPLASTIC-SYNDROME OR COINCIDENCE

The association between lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is wed documented, complicating greater than or equal to 10% of cases involving IPF. This association is considered to be a result of neoplastic degeneration, rather than a paraneoplastic phenomenon. Howe ver, rectal carcinoma has only rarely been linked to paraneoplastic ma nifestations. We describe a young patient with IPF that preceded the a ppearance of rectal carcinoma by 6 mo. The possible association betwee n the two disorders is discussed. (C) 1998 by Am. Cell, of Gastroenter ology.