[Remission of Lambert-Eaton syndrome over a 10-year period. Recurrence without evidence of tumor at autopsy]. / Rémission d'un syndrome de Lambert-Eaton pendant 10 ans. Récidive sans tumeur décelable a l'autopsie.

ABSTRACT

A case of Lambert-Eaton's syndrome with onset 18 months prior to detection of an epidermoid cancer of the larynx is reported. Regression of the syndrome, and its total remission over 10 years without treatment following excision of the tumor, suggested a possible relationship as a paraneoplastic disorder. However, doubt was cast on any possible link by recurrence of the Lambert-Eaton's syndrome after 10 years remission, and the satisfactory course without treatment over the next 6 years combined with failure to detect any tumor recurrence or metastases, even at autopsy. The question raised is whether this is indeed a true paraneoplastic affection or a fortuitous association of an idiopathic form of Lambert-Eaton's syndrome and an infrequent cancer which, in addition, has never been reported at the origin of the Lambert-Eaton syndrome.