Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Esophagus: A Case Series
Article Information
Sunita Singh1, Niti Dalal2, Sonia Chhabra3, Jatin Sharma4, Rajeev Sen5
1Senior Professor, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
2Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
3Professor, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
4MBBS Student, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
5Senior Professor and HOD, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Niti Dalal, Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, India
Received: 09 July 2020; Accepted: 14 September 2020; Published: 02 November 2020
Citation: Sunita Singh, Niti Dalal, Sonia Chhabra, Jatin Sharma, Rajeev Sen. Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Esophagus: A Case Series. Archives of Clinical and Medical Case Reports 4 (2020): 1003-1008.
View / Download Pdf Share at FacebookAbstract
Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NECs) are rare and aggresive type of esophageal carcinoma with positive neuroendocrine markers. The esophageal NECs present most commonly with gastrointestinal symptoms such as dysphagia and/or abdominal discomfort. They have the potential for distant metastasis. In the present case series, all the patients present with symptoms of dysphagia and ulcerative growth pattern with positive neuroendocrine immunohistochemical markers.
Keywords
Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma; Esophagus; Neuroendocrine
Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma articles, Esophagus articles, Neuroendocrine articles
Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma Research articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma review articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed Central articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma 2023 articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma 2024 articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma Scopus articles Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma impact factor journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma Scopus journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma medical journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma free journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma best journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma top journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma free medical journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma famous journals Esophageal Neuroendocrine carcinoma Google Scholar indexed journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma Research articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma review articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed Central articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma 2023 articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma 2024 articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma Scopus articles Neuroendocrine carcinoma impact factor journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma Scopus journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma PubMed journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma medical journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma free journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma best journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma top journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma free medical journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma famous journals Neuroendocrine carcinoma Google Scholar indexed journals carcinoma articles carcinoma Research articles carcinoma review articles carcinoma PubMed articles carcinoma PubMed Central articles carcinoma 2023 articles carcinoma 2024 articles carcinoma Scopus articles carcinoma impact factor journals carcinoma Scopus journals carcinoma PubMed journals carcinoma medical journals carcinoma free journals carcinoma best journals carcinoma top journals carcinoma free medical journals carcinoma famous journals carcinoma Google Scholar indexed journals Esophagus articles Esophagus Research articles Esophagus review articles Esophagus PubMed articles Esophagus PubMed Central articles Esophagus 2023 articles Esophagus 2024 articles Esophagus Scopus articles Esophagus impact factor journals Esophagus Scopus journals Esophagus PubMed journals Esophagus medical journals Esophagus free journals Esophagus best journals Esophagus top journals Esophagus free medical journals Esophagus famous journals Esophagus Google Scholar indexed journals CND articles CND Research articles CND review articles CND PubMed articles CND PubMed Central articles CND 2023 articles CND 2024 articles CND Scopus articles CND impact factor journals CND Scopus journals CND PubMed journals CND medical journals CND free journals CND best journals CND top journals CND free medical journals CND famous journals CND Google Scholar indexed journals treatment articles treatment Research articles treatment review articles treatment PubMed articles treatment PubMed Central articles treatment 2023 articles treatment 2024 articles treatment Scopus articles treatment impact factor journals treatment Scopus journals treatment PubMed journals treatment medical journals treatment free journals treatment best journals treatment top journals treatment free medical journals treatment famous journals treatment Google Scholar indexed journals CT articles CT Research articles CT review articles CT PubMed articles CT PubMed Central articles CT 2023 articles CT 2024 articles CT Scopus articles CT impact factor journals CT Scopus journals CT PubMed journals CT medical journals CT free journals CT best journals CT top journals CT free medical journals CT famous journals CT Google Scholar indexed journals surgery articles surgery Research articles surgery review articles surgery PubMed articles surgery PubMed Central articles surgery 2023 articles surgery 2024 articles surgery Scopus articles surgery impact factor journals surgery Scopus journals surgery PubMed journals surgery medical journals surgery free journals surgery best journals surgery top journals surgery free medical journals surgery famous journals surgery Google Scholar indexed journals Pathogenesis articles Pathogenesis Research articles Pathogenesis review articles Pathogenesis PubMed articles Pathogenesis PubMed Central articles Pathogenesis 2023 articles Pathogenesis 2024 articles Pathogenesis Scopus articles Pathogenesis impact factor journals Pathogenesis Scopus journals Pathogenesis PubMed journals Pathogenesis medical journals Pathogenesis free journals Pathogenesis best journals Pathogenesis top journals Pathogenesis free medical journals Pathogenesis famous journals Pathogenesis Google Scholar indexed journals Neuroendocrine articles Neuroendocrine Research articles Neuroendocrine review articles Neuroendocrine PubMed articles Neuroendocrine PubMed Central articles Neuroendocrine 2023 articles Neuroendocrine 2024 articles Neuroendocrine Scopus articles Neuroendocrine impact factor journals Neuroendocrine Scopus journals Neuroendocrine PubMed journals Neuroendocrine medical journals Neuroendocrine free journals Neuroendocrine best journals Neuroendocrine top journals Neuroendocrine free medical journals Neuroendocrine famous journals Neuroendocrine Google Scholar indexed journals
Article Details
In.troduction
Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a relatively rare disease with a reported incidence between 0.4% and 2% among all malignancies of the esophagus [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification 2010, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NECs) can be classified into three main groups : well-differentiated (low-grade), moderately differentiated (intermediate-grade) and poorly differentiated (high grade), which can be further divided into large cell and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) [2]. The prognosis of NEC of the esophagus is poor than other malignant esophageal cancers, probably due to its poor esophagusinvasion and diagnosis at an advanced stage. The therapeutic strategy for NEC of the esophagus has not been well defined due to few number of cases reported in the literature so far [1]. Here, we report a case series of neuroendocrine carcinoma of esophagus.
2. Case Series
2.1 Case 1
A 52 year old female presented with difficulty in swallowing initially with solid then progresses to semisolid food since 2 months. The patient also complained of regurgitation of food and difficulty in breathing from the last 1-2 months. There was no previous medical history. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination showed ulceroproliferative growth 12cm in length extending just proximal to gastroesophageal junction. The esophageal biopsy was received in the department of pathology and was diagnosed with small cell undifferentiated carcinoma. On IHC, cytokeratin, CD56 and chromogranin were positive and p63 and synaptophysin was negative. The final diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma of oesophagus was given (Figure 1).
Figure 1: A: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (400x, H & E); B: CD 56 Positivity (400x); C: Chromogranin positivity (400x); D: Synaptophysin negative staining (400x).
2.2 Case 2
A 66 year old smoker male presented with dysphagia (grade 3) and weight loss. There was no previous medical history. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed circumferential narrowing at 33-37cm with superficial ulceration. On biopsy, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma possibly squamous cell type was rendered. Seven cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil) were given, but the patient didn’t respond. A repeat esophageal biopsy was done and received in the department for further evaluation. The diagnosis of small cell undifferentiated carcinoma. On immunohistochemical staining, cytokeratin, CD56 and chromogranin and synaptophysin were positive and p63 was negative. The final diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma of oesophagus was made (Figure 2).
Figure 2: A: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (400x, H & E); B: CD 56 Positivity (400x); C: Chromogranin positivity (400x); D: Synaptophysin Positivity (400x).
2.3 Case 3
A 54 year old smoker male presented with difficulty in swallowing since 3 months with no previous medical history. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed ulceroproliferative growth at the mid thoracic esophagus. On biopsy, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma, possibly squamous cell type was given. On immunohistochemical staining, CD56 and chromogranin were positive. The final diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma of oesophagus was made (Figure 3).
Figure 3: A: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (400x, H & E); B: CD 56 Positivity (400x).
2.4 Case 4
A 58 years male presented with dysphagia since 1 months. An ulceroproliferative growth was identified at the lower thoracic esophagus on upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination. On biopsy, a diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma of esophagus with synaptophysin and CD 56 positivity.
Figure 4: A: Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (200x, H & E); B: Synaptophysin Diffuse Positivity (200x); C: CD 56 Focal Positivity (200x).
3. Discussion
NEC was formerly regarded as small cell carcinoma and it was reported by McKeown in 1952 as small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The incidence of NEC ranges from 0.4% to 2% in all malignancies of the esophagus [1]. The origin of this tumor remains unknown. Some authors reported that NEC originates from Kulchisky cells in the esophageal epithelium, which are amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells. While, other authors reported that esophageal NECs originate from pluripotent stem cells [2]. The sites of origin of NECs vary depending on race. As most of the Chinese and Korean authors reported that NECs were present in the middle of the esophagus, whereas American authors revealed that majority of the cases are located in the distal esophagus and are associated with Barrett’s esophagus-related diseases [3]. Also in a study done by Deng et al, Yun et al, Huang et al, the common locations of the esophageal NEC were in the middle followed by lower (34.7%) segments of the esophagus [4-6]. In majority of the cases, submucosal growth and ulcerative growth pattern along with areas of necrosis and hemorrhage was described in the NECs. However, esophageal NECs have a tendency for endoluminal growth. They tend to infiltrate into the muscular layer as well as the serosa layer, suggesting it to be aggressively invasive [2]. Small cell esophageal NEC is the most common histopathological variant. However, Maru et al, reviewed 40 cases of esophageal NEC, out of which 27 cases were of the large cell type [7]. In contrast, Hong et al revealed that majority of NEC are of the small cell type [2]. In our case series, all the three cases were small cell variant of NEC.
An accurate pathological diagnosis of NECs is quite challenging due to difficulties in distinguishing NECs from other poorly differentiated esophageal malignant neoplasms. NECs have often been misdiagnosed as SCCs due to co-existence of squamous cell carcinoma and/or adenocarcinoma are also often observed [3]. Huang reported that over 80% of NEC of the esophagus has synchronous squamous neoplasm [1]. Generally, neuroendocrine biomarkers, such as Synaptophysin and Chromogranin, are essential for the diagnosis of NECs. IHC is very useful for identifying typical NEC histology and cell differentiation [2].
A high prevalence rate of lymph node metastases and distant metastases has been observed for esophageal NECs. Recently, Nayal et al, analysed that 72% cases of small cell carcinoma have distant metastases, the liver and lung being common sites [8]. In than study Huang et al, demostrated that half of esophageal NEC cases have lymphovascular (50%) and lymph node metastasis [6]. As per literature, lymph node metastasis has been observed early in the neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus, and that the ratio of lymph node metastasis is higher than for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with lymphadenectomy have good prognosis [2]. Early diagnosis and treatment are important as surgery has a limited effect, although postoperative adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy can obviously improve prognosis [2]. The prognosis for pure NEC is poor, since there is a high likelihood for disease recurrence which could be a result of early lymphatic spreading and distant metastasis. However, there is no difference in prognosis between the large cell type and small cell type. There are limited reports concerning the outcome of patients with esophageal NEC, owing to the rarity of the disease [2]. Some have reported that invasion depth is the key factor for determining the survival of NEC patients [2].
Due to lack of sufficient data regarding the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal NEC, there were no standard treatment strategies available yet. The role of surgery in esophageal NEC still remains controversial, even though some of the similar studies have revealed long-term survival after surgical resection of esophageal NEC [3,4].
4. Conclusion
The case may be diagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma in small biopsies. Hence, a higher degree of clinical suspicion about the entity is required for diagnosis.
Acknowledgement
All the authors have contributed to concept, literature search, manuscript editing and review.
Funding
There was no source of funding for our research.
Conflict of Interest
There are no conflicts of interest amongst the authors.
Ethical Approval
Not applicable
References
- Egashira A, Morita M, Kumagai R, et al. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 14 cases. PLoS One 12 (2017): e0173501.
- Hong L, Zhang Y, Liu Z. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of esophageal and gastric cardia: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemistry study of 80 cases. Oncotarget 9 (2018): 10754..
- Cai W, Ge W, Yuan Y, et al. A 10-year Population-based Study of the Differences between NECs and Carcinomas of the Esophagus in Terms of Clinicopathology and Survival. Journal of Cancer 10 (2019): 1520.
- Deng HY, Ni PZ, Wang YC, et al. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: clinical characteristics and prognostic evaluation of 49 cases with surgical resection. Journal of Thoracic Disease 8 (2016): 1250.
- Yun JP, Zhang MF, Hou JH, et al. Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 21 cases. BMC Cancer 7 (2007): 38.
- Huang Q, Wu H, Nie L, et al. Primary high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 42 resection cases. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 37 (2013): 467-483.
- Maru DM, Khurana H, Rashid A, et al. Retrospective study of clinicopathologic features and prognosis of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus. The American Journal of Surgical Pathology 32 (2008): 1404-1411.
- Nayal B, Vasudevan G, Rao AC, et al. Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus–An eight year retrospective study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR 9 (2015): EC04.