Authors : Peoli Mukutawat; Anil Kumar Dhull; Vivek Kaushal; Rakesh Dhankhar; Rajeev Atri; Kunwar Prativyom
Volume/Issue : Volume 5 - 2020, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar : http://bitly.ws/9nMw
Scribd : https://bit.ly/2ZPM5BE
DOI : 10.38124/IJISRT20JUL098
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of tonsil are
extremely rare cancers and only a few cases have been
reported till date. They carry a poor prognosis.
Paraneoplastic syndromes like SIADH, Cushing’s
syndrome and Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome
can be found associated with these carcinomas. The
tumor can metastasize to liver, lungs, bone, brain and
skin.
A 70-year-old male presented with a 2-month
history of pain in throat which was moderate to severe
in intensity and intermittent. Local examination of
oropharynx revealed a 5×5 cm ulcero-proliferative
growth over the right tonsil extending to right side of
base of tongue, vallecula, and right retromolar trigone.
Multiple matted lymph nodes were palpable in the right
cervical region. Histopathological examination of tissue
sample from the growth over the right tonsil revealed
small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. On
immunohistochemistry, chromogranin and CD56 were
positive. Patient received 2-courses of neoadjuvant
chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. Then the
patient was planned for external beam radiation
therapy with dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions in 6 weeks.
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of tonsil are
likely to be very aggressive with a tendency of
developing early regional lymphatic and systemic
metastases. More research and clinical trials shall be
explored to obtain a standard treatment strategy for
these patients.