Amphicrine carcinoma of the larynx

Pulmonary Carcinomas With Mucinous and Neuroendocrine Differentiation: Expanding the Spectrum of Amphicrine Carcinomas

Amphicrine carcinoma is a distinct type of carcinoma characterized by synchronous exocrine and endocrine differentiation within the same tumor cell. Such tumors are exceedingly rare and most commonly recognized in the gastrointestinal tract. In the lung, sporadic descriptions of such lesions exist. This report presents 3 more such tumors, expanding the spectrum of amphicrine carcinomas in this organ. The patients were 3 men, 53 to 78 years of age (mean: 63 y) and all were current or former smokers. In one patient the tumor was an incidental finding, the others presented with lower respiratory symptoms. Microscopically, the lesions had an organoid pattern, consisting of nests of large tumor cells with peripheral palisading, vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli reminiscent of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. In addition, the tumor nests also showed glandular features, characterized by gland-like lumina filled with mucin and intracytoplasmic mucin droplets. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse reactivity of the tumor cells with synaptophysin and chromogranin and variable reactivity with TTF-1. Mucin stains highlighted extracellular and intracellular mucin deposition. Clinical follow-up demonstrated that one patient had died of his disease 12 months after surgery while another was alive and free of disease 21 months after surgery. The third patient was alive with widespread metastatic disease 8 months after diagnosis. This series highlights a rare variant of pulmonary carcinoma showing synchronous exocrine and endocrine differentiation. Recognition of this type of tumor is important in terms of tumor classification and to identify an entity with potential aggressive behavior.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the head and neck: some suggestions for the new WHO classification of head and neck tumors

As knowledge and understanding in pathology evolve, classifications and nomenclature also change to reflect those advances. The 2005 World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours was a significant step towards diagnostic standardization of head and neck neuroendocrine carcinomas; however, in the last 10 years there have been new data supporting the recognition of "large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma" as a distinctive high grade carcinoma in the head and neck, a lesion not included in the 2005 Classification. In addition, the terms "middle ear adenoma" and "carcinoid tumor of middle ear" are still widely used to describe a neoplasm that is neither a pure adenoma nor a carcinoid tumor but a lesion with variable mixed exocrine and endocrine differentiation. Largely using the diagnostic criteria of the WHO classification of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung, we propose the terms "neuroendocrine carcinoma, grade 1"; "neuroendocrine carcinoma, grade 2"; "neuroendocrine carcinoma, grade 3, large cell type"; and "neuroendocrine carcinoma, grade 3, small cell type" for the classification of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the head and neck in a future WHO classification. In addition, we also proposed the term "mixed epithelial neuroendocrine tumor" of the middle ear as an alternative for "middle ear adenoma" and "carcinoid tumor of the middle ear".

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx: Advances in identification, understanding, and management

While 85-90% of laryngeal malignancies prove to be squamous carcinomas, the second most common tumour type found in the laryngeal region will prove to be a member of the family of neuroendocrine tumours. Laryngeal carcinoid tumours have a capacity for metastasis, and so are more aggressive tumours than their light microscopic features might imply--5-year survival rates are in the vicinity of 50%. Laryngeal atypical carcinoid tumours are lesions with a well-recognized capacity for local recurrence as well as metastasis, with a 5-year survival of just under 50%. Laryngeal small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are particularly aggressive tumours, with a 5-year survival of no more than 5-10%. Laryngeal paragangliomas are lesions without any real capacity for metastasizing. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment of carcinoid tumours, atypical carcinoid tumours, and paragangliomas. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are chiefly treated by way of radiation and chemotherapy; the role of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of atypical carcinoid tumours remains to be established.

The spectrum of endocrinocarcinomas of the larynx

The authors discuss the terminology, classification, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the endocrinocarcinomas of the larynx.

A review of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx: update on diagnosis and treatment

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx have been divided into those of epithelial or neural origin. The latter consist of paragangliomas while the epithelial origin group can be divided into the typical and atypical carcinoids and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomata, the latter consisting of the oat cell type, the intermediate cell type and the combined cell type. There are now over 500 cases of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx in the literature. The diagnosis is primarily based on light microscopy, and, in some instances, it may be supported by special histochemical studies. It should be confirmed by immunocytochemical and/or ultrastructural investigation. The different biological behaviour of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx makes a specific diagnosis of paramount importance, since treatment depends on diagnostic accuracy. Typical carcinoid is an extremely rare lesion. It is treated preferably by conservative surgery; elective neck dissection is not necessary because of the lack of lymph node metastases at diagnosis. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy have not been effective in the limited number of patients treated thus far. Prognosis is excellent with cure following surgery. Atypical carcinoid is the most frequent non-squamous carcinoma of the larynx. The mainstay of treatment is surgery. Elective neck dissection should be performed because of the high likelihood of cervical lymph node metastases. Primary radiation therapy with adjuvant chemotherapy is not indicated. The survival rate is 48 per cent at five years and 30 per cent at 10 years. Although the larynx is one of its most common extrapulmonary sites, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is still a rare tumour. Surgical results for this tumour have been disappointing and is reserved for cases of local relapse with no evidence of metastasis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy currently appear to offer the least disabling and most effective forms of therapy. The two- and five-year survival rates are 16 per cent and five per cent, respectively. Paraneoplastic syndromes have occasionally been reported in association with carcinoid tumours (typical and atypical) and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. There have been also rare reports of an elevated neuropeptide serum level. Paraganglioma is the only laryngeal neuroendocrine neoplasm with a female preponderance (3:1). Confusion with atypical carcinoid has led to incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate classification schemes, erroneously suggesting that laryngeal paraganglioma has the potential for aggressive behaviour. Conservative surgery represents the treatment of choice; elective neck dissection is not necessary, and the prognosis is excellent.

Atypical carcinoid tumor of the larynx: an immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and flow cytometric analysis

The clinicopathologic features, including a detailed immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and flow cytometric analysis, are described in three cases of atypical carcinoid tumor of the larynx. All patients had metastatic disease within cervical lymph nodes at presentation and eventually developed distant metastases. Special stains revealed focal intracytoplasmic mucin accumulation, and immunohistochemistry showed the tumors to be positive for CAM 5.2, CEA, chromogranin A, and calcitonin. In two cases, double-staining techniques revealed occasional cells that stained for both mucin and chromogranin A. The histochemical and immunohistochemical findings in these two cases were confirmed at the ultrastructural level, with most tumor cells containing many neurosecretory granules. Smaller numbers of cells contained mucin vacuoles and, in occasional cells, both mucin and neuroendocrine granules were identified. The three tumors exhibited positive staining with D07 (anti-p53), and flow cytometric analysis revealed DNA aneuploidy and polyploidy. The double-staining and ultrastructural features indicate that laryngeal atypical carcinoid qualifies for the designation of true amphicrine carcinoma. Further study is necessary to determine whether mutation of the p53 gene is important in the evolution of laryngeal neuroendocrine tumors and whether DNA aneuploidy or polyploidy identifies a subset of these tumors with a poor prognosis.

Atypical carcinoid of larynx: presentation with scalp metastases

A case of atypical carcinoid tumour of the larynx in a 72-year-old woman is presented. The neoplasm was located in the supraglottic region and was first manifest by metastases to the scalp. The presence of amyloid-like material and calcitonin-positive cells were features that resembled medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Clinically, it pursued an aggressive course that led to death 58 months after diagnosis. The literature is reviewed, particularly that regarding the differential diagnosis.

Laryngeal paraganglioma versus atypical carcinoid tumor

Paraganglioma and atypical carcinoid tumor of the larynx are two neuroendocrine neoplasms that have often been confused in the past, and even in the present, in the literature. The clinicopathological profile of the two lesions is presented and the differential diagnosis is discussed. A correct diagnosis is of paramount importance, since treatment and prognosis depend on diagnostic accuracy and differ for the two lesions. Paraganglioma of the larynx is usually benign, whereas atypical carcinoid tumor is malignant and has an aggressive clinical course.