Paraneoplastic acute polyarthritis (PAP) is a recognized rheumatological entity with semeiological features that are based only on a few published cases. We thought that it would be of interest to review the literature and present the current characteristics of PAP, taking into account only those cases where the acute polyarthritis and a neoplastic disease followed parallel courses. The clinical manifestations of PAP are extremely varied, making it difficult to distinguish this disease from some forms of rheumatoid arthritis, the RS3 PE syndrome or polymyalgia rheumatica. Clinicians must be vigilant when they are faced with a particularly progressive acute polyarthritis in a patient aged over 60, and particularly when this patient's general condition is altered and when fever and a clear-cut inflammatory syndrome are present. In such circumstances, it is mandatory to investigate for an underlying neoplasia.