Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the endometrium is a rare, aggressive subtype of endometrial cancer. We report a 61-year-old female with a history of breast cancer, s/p modified radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal (tamoxifen) therapy, who presented with post-menopausal bleeding. Patient underwent TAH-BSO with lymph node dissection, and was diagnosed with a mixed small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), confirmed by positive immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers. No other lesions were identified on PET-CT, making a primary endometrial NEC the most likely diagnosis. We review the clinical and pathologic characteristics of endometrial neuroendocrine carcinomas.
Endometrial Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach is an uncommon cancer with a high grade malignant behavior and a poor prognosis. The classification of gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas and its biologic characteristics remain controversial. It can be subdivided into the large cell and small cell variants based on its morphological characteristics. The low incidence of this tumor has contributed to the limited knowledge regarding its treatment and prognosis. We report here on two cases of primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of stomach, large cell and small cell carcinomas, respectively, along with a review of the literature.
Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Incidence ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Few studies on how to diagnose pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors through morphometric analysis have been reported. In this study, we measured and analyzed the characteristic parameters of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors using an image analyzer to aid in diagnosis. METHODS: Sixteen cases of typical carcinoid tumor, 5 cases of atypical carcinoid tumor, 15 cases of small cell carcinoma, and 51 cases of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma were analyzed. Using an image analyzer, we measured the nuclear area, perimeter, and the major and minor axes. RESULTS: The mean nuclear area was 0.318+/-0.101 microm2 in typical carcinoid tumors, 0.326+/-0.119 microm2 in atypical carcinoid tumors, 0.314+/-0.107 microm2 in small cell carcinomas, and 0.446+/-0.145 microm2 in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. The mean nuclear circumference was 2.268+/-0.600 microm in typical carcinoid tumors, 2.408+/-0.680 microm in atypical carcinoid tumors, 2.158+/-0.438 microm in small cell carcinomas, and 3.247+/-1.276 microm in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. All parameters were useful in distinguishing large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma from other tumors (p=0.001) and in particular, nuclear circumference was the most effective (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors showed nuclear morphology differences by subtype. Therefore, evaluation of quantitative nuclear parameters improves the accuracy and reliability of diagnosis.
Carcinoid Tumor ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Neuroendocrine Tumors

To evaluate the role of sputum and bronchial washing for the diagnosis of lung carcinoma, we studied the sensitivity of both cytologic techniques using the biopsy confirmed cases from 228 patients. Among them, 123 cases were squamous cell carcinomas, 42 cases were adenocarcinomas, 48 cases were small cell carcinomas, one case was large cell carcinoma, and 14 cases were other types of carcinoma including poorly differentiated carcinomas. Three hundreds and ninety two sputa and 173 sputa were obtained in the pre- and post- bronchoscopic periods. Bronchial washing had been taken once in each patient. The overall sensitivity of the sputum cytology was 0.52 and that of the bronchial washing 0.63, while it increased to 0.83 when a combination of both techniques. Squamous cell carcinomas were diagnosed to the great extent in which sensitivities were 0.59 and 0.74, in sputum and bronchial washing, respectively. The post-bronchoscopic sputa showed higher sensitivity (0.44) than pre-bronchoscopic sputa (0.30). The sensitivity of sputa increased from 0.34 to 0.49 when three samples were examined compared to the single examination. The accuracy of cell typing was 94.0% in sputa and 93.8% in bronchial washing. Repeated sputum examination including post- bronchoscopic sputa is warranted to improve sensitivity and a complementary role of both cytologic techniques can be postulated by these data.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy* ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Sputum*

Animals ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; physiopathology ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; classification ; Humans ; Urologic Neoplasms ; classification ; Urothelium ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUND: The DNA-binding protein p63, a member of the p53 family, regulates differentiation and proliferation of epithelial progenitor cells. In this study, we evaluated the expression of p63 in lung cancer to gain insight into the pathogenesis of these processes. METHODS: A total of 89 patients who had undergone potentially curative surgery for lung cancer were selected. Expressions of p53, p63, and deltaNp63 were analyzed immunohistologically using a tissue array method with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Immunohistological results were then correlated with clinicopathological parameters with prognostic implications. RESULTS: Expressions of p63 and deltaNp63 were found in 47 (52.8%) and 38 (43.2%) of the 89 patients, respectively. No relationships between the p63 or deltaNp63 expressions and any clinicopathological variables were found. p63 was expressed in 92.5% (37/40) of the squamous cell carcinomas, 17.9% (7/39) of the adenocarcinomas, 20% (1/5) of the small cell carcinomas, and 0% (0/5) of the large cell carcinomas. deltaNp63 was expressed in 92.3% (36/39) of the squamous cell carcinomas, 2.5% (1/39) of the adenocarcinomas, 0% (0/5) of the small cell carcinomas, 0% (0/5) of the large cell carcinomas, and 50% (1/2) of the adenosquamous cell carcinomas. In the squamous cell carcinomas, significantly high expressions of p63 and deltaNp63 were found (p<0.05). p53 protein was detected in samples from 49 of the 89 patients (55.1%). No significant associations between the p53 expressions and the p63 or deltaNp63 expressions were noted. CONCLUSION: p63 or deltaNp63 is likely to be involved in the development of squamous cell carcinomas of the lung and no significant association was found between p63 or deltaNp63 and patient survival rates.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate

The large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is uncommon and its diagnostic criteria was recently established as pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma. A 74-year-old man who was a heavy smoker without symptoms was presented with a lung mass in right lower lobe. He was diagnosed as having large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma by needle biopsy. He was treated with right lower lobe lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. We experienced one case of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of lung and report it with reference.
Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymph Node Excision

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion has only been reported in a few patients with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC); however, it has never been reported in a patient with LCNEC of the lung, whose serum sodium levels were normalized after surgical resection of the mass. A 63-year-old male presented with a two-day history of dizziness and recent memory loss. On admission, his serum sodium level was 113 mEq/L with a serum osmolality of 236 mosm/kg, a urine osmolality of 441 mosm/kg, and a urine sodium level of 65 mEq/L. His chest computed tomography revealed a 2.7x2.3 cm-sized mass in the left lower lobe. After surgical removal of the mass, his serum sodium concentrations were normalized, and histopathology of the mass revealed LCNEC.
Carcinoma, Large Cell/*pathology ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/*pathology ; Humans ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

We report 4 cases of malignant thymoma which were composed of 2 cases of invasive thymoma and 2 cases of thymic carcinoma. The cytologic findings of invasive thymoma were similar to those of benign thymoma. The distinctive cytologic features of thymic carcinoma were necrotic background, irregular clusters and individually scattered arrangement of anaplastic epithelial cells, and some scattered mature small lymphocytes. These findings may be found in the Hodgkin'slymphoma, seminoma, and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma of the. lung. But, the feature of irregular clustering of anaplastic epithelial cell having scanty cytoplasm was different from Hodgkin'slymphoma and seminoma. Clinical and radiologic findings as well as cytologic finding were helpful in differential diagnosis of thymic carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Seminoma ; Thymoma*