Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: a rare case report and literature review

This current report describes a rare clinical case of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the larynx with associated Lambert-Eaton myasthenic paraneoplastic syndrome (LEMS). A 68-year-old male patient presented with severe dysphonia and dysphagia. He underwent a total laryngectomy and the excised lesi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of international medical research 2021-05, Vol.49 (5), p.3000605211014784-3000605211014784
Main Authors: Mesolella, Massimo, Allosso, Salvatore, Buono, Sarah, Ricciardiello, Filippo, Motta, Gaetano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Autoimmune diseases
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine - complications
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine - diagnostic imaging
Case Reports
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - complications
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome - diagnosis
Laryngeal cancer
Laryngeal Neoplasms - complications
Laryngeal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Laryngeal Neoplasms - surgery
Larynx
Lung Neoplasms
Male
Prognosis
Tumors
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This current report describes a rare clinical case of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the larynx with associated Lambert-Eaton myasthenic paraneoplastic syndrome (LEMS). A 68-year-old male patient presented with severe dysphonia and dysphagia. He underwent a total laryngectomy and the excised lesion was extremely large. A pathological examination demonstrated ‘morphological findings of a poorly differentiated carcinoma (G3) with aspects of neuroendocrine differentiation’ (i.e. a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas [PD-NEC]). Based on the patient’s medical history and the immunohistochemical findings, he was treated with three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin–etoposide) and then radiotherapy with a total dose of 70 Gy. Of the 10 cases of paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) related to laryngeal NEC reported in the literature, nine of these syndromes were of an endocrine type. Only one case of PNS associated with laryngeal cancer had a neurological manifestation, which was LEMS. To the best of our knowledge, this current case has only one similar precedent in the literature and it is the second report of an association between a PD-NEC and LEMS. Laryngeal NECs are rare lesions with different prognostic characteristics. The diagnosis should be made using an endocrinological, neurological, radiological and histological multidisciplinary approach. A radical surgical approach is recommended.
ISSN:0300-0605
1473-2300
DOI:10.1177/03000605211014784