SCREENING FOR CANCER
DELTA-P SCREENING FOR TUMOR LEMSShareCopy LinkCOPIED!
The DELTA-P (Dutch-English LEMS Tumor Association Prediction) score is a clinical tool developed in 2011 by Titulaer and colleagues—and validated in a 2020 prospective cohort study—that helps predict the risk of cancer in patients with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS).47,48
The abbreviation is also a mnemonic that highlights the signs associated with paraneoplastic LEMS.
Each item is scored equally48
Total score ranges from 0-6, with higher scores linked to greater likelihood of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)48
DELTA-P predicts SCLC with
reliability early in the course of LEMS48
*Karnofsky Performance Score is an attempt to quantify cancer patients’ general well-being and their quality of life. The score runs from 100 to 0, where 100 = perfect health and 0 = death. A cutoff value of 70 was chosen; those with values below 70 need at least occasional assistance for activities of daily living.48
SCREENING STEPSShareCopy LinkCOPIED!
A thorough patient history can help uncover key clues
Review timing of symptom onset in relation to symptom spread or exacerbation
Paraneoplastic LEMS has a more rapid and aggressive onset than non-paraneoplastic LEMS that can help reveal the signs of an occult tumor27,49
Verify current or past tobacco use
The majority of cancer-related LEMS cases occur in people with a history of smoking4,9,11,43
If you suspect cancer
An X-ray, PET scan, or CT scan can reveal tumor presence4,43
Stay informed
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