title: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in a patient with small-cell lung cancer: A case report.
abstract: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a neuromuscular junction disorder characterized by fluctuating proximal limb muscle weakness, decreased deep tendon reflexes and various autonomic symptoms. LEMS is reportedly the most common neurological paraneoplastic syndrome. This is the case report of a patient with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) who developed LEMS. A 68-year-old male patient presented with a 6-month history of progressive weakness of the proximal limbs and a 2-month history of xerostomia. The patient was admitted to the Department of Neurology of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region (Shenyang, China). The symptoms of the patient were not relieved with supportive therapy. Further laboratory tests, electrodiagnostic studies, chest computed tomography and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of LEMS in the presence of SCLC. Following administration of two cycles of rescue chemotherapy with a combination of etoposide and cisplatin, the symptoms of the patient were gradually relieved and, after six cycles of therapy, the primary malignancy completely regressed. In conclusion, a diagnosis of LEMS may lead to the timely detection of SCLC, significantly improving patient prognosis and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China ; Department of Oncology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ran-Ran
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Zhe
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ye
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xie
keywords: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome; myasthenia gravis; small-cell lung cancer; voltage-gated calcium channel