[A case of small cell lung carcinoma complicated by Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome].
A 54-year old man was admitted with general fatigue, muscle weakness and dyspnea on effort. Medical examinations led to a diagnosis of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Marked improvement of SCLC and symptoms of LEMS were recognized twice during chemoradiotherapy. On his third admission, he showed muscle weakness, dysaethesia, and neurodysfunction of the bladder and rectum. We initially considered these symptoms to be due to spinal metastasis because MRI findings showed multiple spinal metastases. However, electoromyogram and nerve conduction study demonstrated that his muscle weakness resulted from LEMS though dysethesia and neurodysfunction of bladder and rectum were caused by spinal metastasis. We believe that it is important to perform electomyogram and nerve conduction studies, not only radiographic findings, to detect the "hidden" symptoms of LEMS.
Isobe
Zen
Z
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Suga
Tatsuo
T
Katou
Toshimitsu
T
Hara
Kenichirou
K
Aoki
Fumiaki
F
Aoyagi
Kana
K
Ueno
Manabu
M
Maeno
Toshitaka
T
Kurabayashi
Masahiko
M
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged