Yetiskul Ekrem, Salak Jordyn, Arafa Fatema, Agarwal Alaukika, Matra Amanda, Niazi Muhammad, Odaimi Marcel
Department of Internal Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10305, USA.
Department of Hematology & Oncology, Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10305, USA.
Case Rep Oncol Med. 2024 May 21;2024:8792291. doi: 10.1155/2024/8792291. eCollection 2024.
Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) constitutes a rare subset of highly undifferentiated malignancies known for their aggressive nature. Although these tumors commonly originate in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, their potential occurrence is not restricted to specific anatomical sites, giving rise to a variety of symptoms. Notably, cases of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with an unidentified primary source exhibit a graver prognosis and shorter survival periods compared to those with clearly identified origins. NETs frequently demonstrate a propensity to metastasize, spreading to diverse anatomical regions such as the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and bones, illustrating their aggressive nature and the complexity of their management. In this context, we present the case of a 59-year-old male who sought medical attention in the emergency department due to right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. Initial diagnostic assessments revealed significantly elevated liver function tests and severe hypercalcemia. A right upper quadrant ultrasound (RUQ US) was subsequently performed, which revealed heterogeneous hepatic echotexture with innumerable echogenic masses, suggesting a metastatic process. A computed tomography (CT) scan was then ordered to evaluate further the RUQ US findings, which showed numerous hypovascular liver masses, raising concerns of malignancy. A liver biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of LCNEC with an unidentified primary source.
大细胞神经内分泌癌(LCNEC)是高度未分化恶性肿瘤的一个罕见亚型,以其侵袭性而闻名。尽管这些肿瘤通常起源于肺和胃肠道,但其可能发生的部位并不局限于特定的解剖部位,从而导致各种症状。值得注意的是,与原发灶明确的神经内分泌肿瘤(NETs)相比,原发灶不明的NETs患者预后更差,生存期更短。NETs常常表现出转移倾向,可扩散至不同的解剖区域,如肝脏、肺、淋巴结和骨骼,这说明了它们的侵袭性本质及其治疗的复杂性。在此背景下,我们报告一例59岁男性患者,因右上腹(RUQ)腹痛到急诊科就诊。初始诊断评估显示肝功能检查显著升高及严重高钙血症。随后进行了右上腹超声检查(RUQ US),显示肝脏回声不均匀,有无数个高回声团块,提示有转移过程。然后进行了计算机断层扫描(CT)以进一步评估RUQ US的检查结果,显示肝脏有许多低血供肿块,令人怀疑为恶性肿瘤。肝脏活检确诊为原发灶不明的LCNEC。