A Case of Laryngeal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC/G3) which Responded Well to Chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors is a generic term for tumors arising from neuroendocrine cells. In the present study, we encountered a patient with a Grade 3 laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinoma with liver and bone metastases who was successfully treated with a small cell lung cancer (SCLC) regimen. We report herin on this case with a review of the diagnosis, classification, and management of neuroendocrine tumors. Classically, neuroendocrine tumors have their own classification by the organs involved, and in some previous studies, the histopathology has been inconsistent with the clinical course. Then, in 2010, the WHO advocated a new pathological classification, whereby neuroendocrine tumors were to be stratified into 3 groups: Grade (G) 1, G2 and G3 based on the mitotic count and Ki67 index. A previously reported series of high-grade neuroendocrine tumors were equivalent to G3, and some reports have described that SCLC treatment was given. In our case, the patient was also treated as an SCLC patient, and the response of the primary lesion was evaluated as complete response (CR). Currently, 18 months have elapsed since the completion of therapy, the patient enjoys satisfactory levels of QOL without recurrence. We believe that this classification would be of assistance in discussion about prediction of the prognosis and statistical treatment.