Relapse of both small cell lung cancer and Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome after a 13-year disease-free survival period

Abstract

Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a paraneoplastic syndrome and only 3% of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) patients have LEMS. Moreover, the recurrence of SCLC after a disease-free survival (DFS) of more than 10 years is rare. We report a patient who had a recurrence of both SCLC and LEMS after a 13-year DFS period. A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with LEMS and SCLC (cT0N2M0, stage IIIA) 13 years ago. Chemoradiotherapy was performed and a complete response was achieved. With anticancer treatment, the LEMS symptoms was alleviated. At the age of 82 years, gait disturbance appeared followed by left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and further examination revealed the recurrence of SCLC. Careful screening for the recurrence of SCLC might be needed when the patient has recurrent or secondary paraneoplastic neurological syndrome even after a long DFS period.

Development of second primary small‐cell lung cancer within the irradiated field after chemoradiotherapy: a report of two cases

“…This could be a coincidence, and small-cell carcinoma is more likely to be recognized as SPM because non-SCLC was the most common first cancer. However, some cases of SCLC after chemoradiotherapy have been reported to recur within the irradiated field after a long disease-free time of more than a decade [9]. These patients may have developed secondary primary SCLC rather than recurrence.…”