Real-World Data Reveals Underdiagnosis of SCLC-Associated LEMS
A retrospective study indicates that Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is frequently underdiagnosed. Researchers suggest that oncologists have a significant opportunity to improve detection rates.
Why it matters
Addresses a critical gap in clinical oncology and neurology, potentially improving patient outcomes through earlier diagnosis of rare paraneoplastic syndromes.
A retrospective study showed that Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) associated with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) may be underdiagnosed in real-world treatment settings, according to findings published in Frontiers in Oncology.1
What did the retrospective study show about LEMS in SCLC?
Of 867,170 patients with eligible lung cancer claims from 2017 to 2022, 46,995 (5.4%) who were presumed to have SCLC had claims for treatment containing etoposide and platinum. Of this population, 77 (0.16%; 95% CI, 0.13%-0.20%) had a claim for LEMS during the study period, and of 8513 patients with presumed SCLC and at least 12 months of follow-up, 16 (0.19%; 95% CI, 0.10%-0.28%) had a LEMS claim.
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