Autopsy and Case Reports
https://www.autopsyandcasereports.org/article/doi/10.4322/acr.2014.003
Autopsy and Case Reports
Article / Autopsy Case Report

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: an autopsy case report

Mariana Bellaguarda de Castro Sepulvida; Augusto Vieira Amaral; Pompeu Tomé Ribeiro de Campos; Carlos Osvaldo Teixeira; Maria Aparecida Barone Teixeira

Downloads: 9
Views: 1133

Abstract

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a well-known aggressive neoplasia, which is usually associated with a poor prognosis. The lung is the most common primary site, but other organs may be involved, especially those of the digestive tract. The authors report the case of a 71-year-old Caucasian, male patient who was admitted because of congestive heart failure and loss of vision accompanied by right proptosis. Skull and sinuses computed tomography showed a tumoral mass involving the posterior region of the right eye, local bones, and paranasal sinuses. Because of severe hemodynamic instability, the patient died and no diagnostic investigation could be performed. Autopsy findings revealed small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus and metastases to the posterior region of the right ocular globe, which affected the sinuses, the muscles of the ocular region, the orbit bones, the skull, the meninges and the brain, plus the liver, adrenal glands, and the pericardium. This case called the author’s attention to the extent of the metastatic disease in a patient who was firstly interpreted as presenting solely with congestive heart failure. The autopsy findings substantially aid the understanding of the immediate cause of death.
 

Keywords

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Neuroendocrine Cells, Carcinoma, Small Cell, Esophagus, Autopsy

References

Wang SY, Mao WM, Du XH, Xu YP, Zhang SZ. The 2002 AJCC TNM classification is a better predictor of primary small cell esophageal carcinoma outcome than the VALSG staging system. Chin J Cancer. 2013;32:342-52.

Henry MACA, Lerco MM, Oliveira WKet al. Carcinoma de pequenas células do esôfago: estudo clínico patológico de dois casos. ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2008;21:38-40. Portuguese. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-67202008000100008]

Yun JP, Zhang MF, Hou JH, et al. Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 21 cases. BMC Cancer. 2007;7:38. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-7-38]

Casas F, Ferrer F, Farrús B, Casals J, Biete A. Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a review of the literature with emphasis on therapy and prognosis. Cancer.1997;80:1366-72. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19971015)80:8<1366::AID-CNCR2>3.0.CO;2-D]

Rekhtman N. Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung: an update. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2010;134:1628-38.

Vos B, Rozema T, Miller RCet al. Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a multicentre Rare Cancer Network study. Dis Esophagus. 2011;24:258-64. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2050.2010.01133.x]

Dias AR, Sallum RAA, Zalc N, Ctenas BB, Ribeiro U Jr, Cecconello I. Squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma colliding in the esophagus. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010;65:114-7. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322010000100018]

Coral RP, Hartmann A, Mastalir FP, Mastalir ET. Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. ABCD Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2007;20:216-8. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-67202007000300017]

Schlittler LA, Lazaretti NS, Villaroel RU, Klitzke S, Dallagasperina VW. Carcinoma de pequenas células do esôfago: apresentação de dois casos. J Port Gastrenterol. 2011;18:243-6. Portuguese.

Sabanathan S, Graham GP, Salama FD. Primary oat cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. Thorax. 1986;41:318-21. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.41.4.318]

Li AF-Y, Li AC-H, Hsu C-Y, Li WY, Hsu HS, Chen JY. Small cell carcinomas in gastrointestinal tract: Immunohistochemical and clinicopathological features. J Clin Pathol. 2010;63:620-5. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2010.077024]

McKeown F. Oat-cell carcinoma of the œsophagus. J Pathol. 1952;64:889-91. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1002/path.1700640420]

Shimoda T, Koizumi W, Tanabe Set al. Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus associated with a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome: a case report documenting a complete response. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2006;36:109-12. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1093/jjco/hyi241]

Souza HP, Alves JM, Pandolfo G. Carcinoma de pequenas células do esôfago. Rev Col Bras Cir. 1998;25:290-2. Portuguese. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-69911998000400015]

Peixoto RDA, Lim HJ, Cheung WY. Neuroendocrine tumor metastatic to the orbit treated with radiotherapy. World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2013;5:177-80. http://dx.doi.org/ [https://doi.org/10.4251/wjgo.v5.i8.177]

Silva AC, Alves RC, Pinheiro LS. As implicações da caquexia no câncer. e-Scientia. 2012;5:49-56. Portuguese.

Amador P, Mendes L, Gonçalves Set al. [Carcinoid tumors: echocardiographic contribution to the diagnosis]. Acta Med Port. 2011;24:843-8. PMID: [PMID:22525639] Portuguese.


 


Publication date:
01/13/2016

569696ae64cc8b5cda711be6 autopsy Articles

Autops Case Rep

Share this page
Page Sections