Head and neck metastase of neuroendocrine carcinomas-Case report

Poorly differentiated small cell carcinoma (Grade III) is an invasive malignancy that occurs mainly in the lung. The neuroendocrine carcinomas include the histological catergories of carcinoid tumors, the atypical carcinoid tumors and the small cell carcinomas. They stain positive for at least one neuroendocrine marker such as synaptophysin, CD56 or chomangin A and evolve from the neuroectodermal stem cells. Larynx (35 %) and nasal cavity/paranasal sinuses (30 %) were the most common anatomical sites.

Case report A 78-year old male was referred to our hospital with a 4-week history of dysphonia and dysphagia. His medical history included no history of smoking. At admission, the physical examination revealed a exophytic mass in the left hypopharynx and vallecular region. All other head and neck findings were normal.

A biopsy specimen was gained in a panendoscopy in full anesthesia.

To complete the staging a contrast-enhaced computer tomographie (CT) scan of the chest was performed, it revealed a pulmonary lesion with bihilar lymphadenopathy. Pathological findings of the hypopharyngeal lesion confirmed a high grade (G3) neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. The patient was administered chemotherapy.

As noted before, neuroendocrine tumors of the head and neck are highly malignant and rapidly expanding carcinomas. It is difficult to determine a standardized therapy, as only a few neuroendocrine tumors of the head and neck were reported. We recommend a inderdisciplinary approach to obtain the best therapeutic strategy. Given the rarity of this tumor we recommend a muticentric database to secure a improved and standardized treatment in the future.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020