Surgery results in complete cure of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a paraneoplastic phenomenon associated with neuroendocrine tumours, most frequently small cell lung carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cause of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. A 70-year old gentleman was referred with metastatic axillary nodal disease from a previously resected Merkel cell carcinoma of the left arm. Pre-operatively, the patient was wheelchair-bound from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Level I-III left axillary node clearance was performed and within 6 months, he had experienced full recovery of muscle power and mobility. We describe a case of complete cure of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome following axillary nodal clearance in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.
Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA1 6NL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: richardsiau@doctors.org.uk.
Richard T K
RT
Siau
Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA1 6NL, United Kingdom; University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, United Kingdom.
Andrew
A
Morris
Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA1 6NL, United Kingdom.
Richard O S
RO
Karoo
D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D035583:Rare Diseases; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods
LEMS; Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome; Merkel cell carcinoma; Neurology; Paraneoplastic; Surgery