Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration and Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome Associated with Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Oropharynx

Intern Med. 2018 Feb 15;57(4):587-590. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9333-17. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

Abstract

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (PCD-LEMS) are usually associated with small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). PCD-LEMS with extrapulmonary non-SCLC tumors; however, has not been previously reported. A 78-year-old man presented with dysarthria, dysphagia, staggering gait, and lower extremity muscle fatigue. He was diagnosed with PCD-LEMS associated with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the oropharynx, based on the histological findings of the biopsy, the existence of antibodies against P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and an incremental response of the compound muscle action potentials during repetitive nerve stimulation tests. Thus, PCD-LEMS should be included in the differential diagnosis of neurological dysfunction, even in extrapulmonary non-SCLC patients.

Keywords: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS); antibodies against P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC); neuroendocrine carcinoma; oropharyngeal cancer; paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / complications
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / etiology*
  • Male
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / complications
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration / etiology*