Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in patients with small cell lung cancer: Report of five cases.
OBJECTIVE
To further evaluate the clinical characteristics of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with Lambert-Eaton syndrome.


METHODS
We reviewed the patient database of our hospital from 2001 to 2013 to evaluate and analyze the patients of SCLC with Lambert-Eaton syndrome. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients were analyzed in this retrospective study.


RESULTS
From reviewing our hospital database, we included 5 SCLC patients with Lambert-Eaton syndrome from 202 SCLC subjects with an incidence rate of 2.5%. The median age of the 5 patients was 52 (41-71) with 4 male and 1 female. The myasthenia symptom can be detected in 2-20 months before the pathology confirmation for small cell lung carcinoma. The general electromyography characteristics of Lambert-Eaton syndrome was reduction in action potential amplitude after repetitive peripheral never stimulation at low frequency and increased amplitude at high frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Lambert-Eaton syndrome was sometimes found in patients with SCLC which was useful for diagnosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma in a relatively early stage.
Yueqiao
Y
Hao
Jinmeng
J
Hu
Yajun
Y
Zhang
Weichao
W
Liu
Shanshan
S
Lu
Department of Electromyography, Henan University, Huaihe Hospital, Henan 475000, PR China.
Min
M
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy