Cristina Corina Pop Radu
Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) represent approximately 20% of all primary neoplasms of the lung. Histologic confirmation is important for treatment and prognosis determination. NET are classified according to four subtypes in the lung: typical carcinoid tumor (TC), atypical carcinoid tumor (AC), small cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). TC is low-grade, AC is intermediate-grade, and SCC and LCNEC are high-grade malignancies.
Case report: A 57 years old woman, affected by a cervical anterior tumor and a proliferative tissue below the glottis was referred to our Endocrinology Department from ENT service for a second opinion. An ultrasound scan of the neck showed a polynodular goiter with bilaterally lymph nodes enlargement with suspicious malignancy characters. She had undergone surgery for the cervical anterior mass and for the laryngeal biopsy. Histopathological examination results were consistent with a SCC; neoplastic cells showed immunoreactivity to synaptophysin, neuron specific enolase and chromogranin. The serum levels of serotonin, cromogranin A, calcitonin, carcinoembryonic antigen, ACTH, PTH, TSH, FT4 were normal. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of her left thyroid lobe nodule was performed and the cytopathological exam was compatible with a neuroendocrine tumor metastasis. Thoracic and abdominal computed tomography was normal at that moment. Chest CT revealed the primary pulmonary tumor at 6 months after presentation. The therapeutic option for advanced or metastatic NETs is mainly palliation of symptoms; options need to be individualized and, therefore, rely on the knowledge of multidisciplinary teams.
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