Degeneration of muscle in association with carcinoma of the bronchus.

The clinical features and necropsy findings are described in three cases in which severe and rapidly progressive muscle weakness developed in association with carcinoma of the bronchus. In all three cases, muscular weakness was directly responsible for death. Histological and ultramicroscopical examination in all cases showed an unusual type of degeneration of muscle fibres accompanied by degeneration of intramuscular nerve fibres, but without involvement of the central nervous system, or of the peripheral nerve trunks. The findings are compared with those of previously reported cases, and possible mechanisms for the muscle degeneration are discussed.