Primary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland. Report of a Rare Case
- 1 December 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Head and Neck Pathology
- Vol. 15 (4), 1377-1384
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-021-01300-0
Abstract
Primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of the salivary glands are very rare neoplasms that present light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of neuroendocrine differentiation. Twelve cases have been published in the English language literature. We describe the pathologic features of a case of primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the parotid gland in a 91-year old male and summarize the immunophenotype of previously reported LCNECs of the major salivary glands. It is concluded that primary LCNEC of the salivary glands presents as a high-grade undifferentiated carcinoma, whose diagnosis may be hindered by its rarity and non-specific light microscopic features. A high level of awareness, immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and CD56, and a thorough diagnostic work-up in order to exclude metastasis from a primary neuroendocrine carcinoma will allow its diagnosis.This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting with neck swelling in the submandibular gland: a case reportJournal of Medical Case Reports, 2013
- Absence of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Primary Parotid High-grade Neuroendocrine Carcinomas Regardless of Cytokeratin 20 ImmunophenotypeThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2011
- Nerve cell bodies and small ganglia in the connective tissue stroma of human submandibular glandsNeuroscience Letters, 2010
- Metastatic neuroendocrine carcinomas to the head and neck: report of 4 cases and review of the literatureOral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, 2009
- Carcinosarcoma of the parotid gland: an unusual case with large‐cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and rhabdomyosarcomaAPMIS, 2005
- Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the parotid gland: case report and literature reviewAuris Nasus Larynx, 2005
- Primary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: Immunohistochemical and Molecular Analysis of Two CasesLaboratory Investigation, 2000
- Undifferentiated carcinomas of the major salivary glandsOral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, 1990
- Primary endocrine carcinoma of the parotid salivary gland associated with a lung carcinoid: a possible new association.Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1982