Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as a Paraneoplastic Syndrome Characterized by Recurrent Episodic Hypotension and Bradycardia : Case Report

A 56-year-old man presenting with a 6-month history of recurrent episodic hypotension and bradycardia was found to have limited-stage small cell lung cancer. During both quiescence and episodes of hemodynamic embarrassment, extensive evaluations were conducted. Possible explanations included the following: intermittent great vessel obstruction; baroreceptor failure/hypersensitivity; and autonomic dysfunction. His clinical course favored an antibody-negative dysautonomic paraneoplastic syndrome.