Neuroblastomas are derived from the neural crest ectoderm, and are the most common solid abdominal masses of infancy. Congenital neuroblastoma, however, is rare. We report a rare case of congenital neuroblastoma with multiple metastases found at autopsy, performed at 2 days after birth. He was born by cesarian section and weighed 2,350 g. His respiration was weak and abdomen was distended. The patient died 2 days after birth. Postmortem examination revealed a relatively well demarcated ovoid mass, in the left adrenal, with necrosis and hemorrhage. Multiple small metastatic tumor nodules in the liver, lung, kidney, brain, rib, thyroid glands, and spleen, were noted. The histopathological pictures confirmed the diagnosis of neuroblastoma of the adrenal with multiple metastasis.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/congenital/*diagnosis/pathology ; Autopsy ; Chromogranins/biosynthesis ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma/congenital/*diagnosis/pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the prognostic value of neuroendocrine clone on colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSThe immunochemistry methods were used to investigate the percent of neuroendocrine carcinoma in 73 human colorectal carcinoma. Retrospective analysis and follow-up were carried out in all patients.

RESULTSIn all 73 cases of colorectal carcinoma, the total percentage of neuroendocrine carcinoma was 17.8%. Neuroendocrine carcinoma included 11 synapse positive, 6 chromogranin positive and 4 both positive. The major factors related to the prevalence of neuroendocrine carcinoma were sex, age, tumor location and Dukes' stage. And the 1-year survival rate of the patients who suffered from neuroendocrine carcinoma is obviously lower than that of other colorectal carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe neuroendocrine carcinoma is a special kind of human colorectal carcinoma, and neuroendocrine clone may be a new marker of the malignant potency. The neuroendocrine clone has its prognostic value and may be a novel therapeutic target.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Chromogranins ; biosynthesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Synapsins ; biosynthesis