Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the kidney: Clinicopathologic features

Neuroendocrine tumors are rare entities which can arise in various sites of the body. The presence of both neural and endocrine elements in conjunction characterises these tumors pathologically. Most of these tumors are non secretory in nature, and arise in organs where there may not be any neuroendocrine elements. Carcinoid tumors are the most common entities reported in the kidney. There have been only a couple of case series of non-carcinoid neuroendocrine tumors of the kidney reported in literature. Surgical resection appears to be the best available treatment modality. Chemotherapy has been attempted with dismal results. The biological behaviour is determined by the occurrence of metastases to the liver or lung. We report a patient with a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the kidney, who underwent radical resection and is doing well on follow-up. The diagnosis was confirmed by immune-histochemistry.