Abstract
Neuroendocrine tumors of the head and neck are rare. The malignant potential of neuroendocrine tumors tends to be higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, the pathologic classification has been the subject of great debate over the years. We report herein two cases of neuroendocrine tumor of the epiglottis.
The first case was a 67-year-old male who had sore throat and hoarseness. An ulcerous legion was observed on the swelling side of the epiglottis, and the result of a biopsy of the lesion suggested poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The findings of imaging studies （CT, MRI and PET） showed no evidence of metastasis, and the stage of the tumor was diagnosed as T1N0M0. Horizontal partial laryngectomy was performed. The pathological diagnosis was a neuroendocrine tumor grade 2 （NET G2）. Although the resection margin was negative, the patient developed postoperative lymph node metastasis to the neck, which was not controlled by subsequent bilateral neck dissection. The patient died 18 months after the first surgery.
The other case was an 80-year-old male whose epiglottic tumor was discovered by follow-up endoscopic examination after total gastrectomy for stomach cancer. A biopsy of the protruding lesion on the swelling side of the epiglottis suggested neuroendocrine tumor. Based on the findings of imaging studies （CT, MRI and PET）, the stage of the tumor was diagnosed as T2N0M0. Total laryngectomy was performed and the pathological diagnosis was a neuroendocrine carcinoma grade 3 （NEC G3）. Although microscopic infiltration of the tumor cells into veins and lymphatic vessels was found, additional therapy was not performed because of the age of the patient. The patient developed lymph node metastasis on the left posterior region of the neck 28 months after the surgery. Additional therapy is not being performed due to the patient’s age.
