Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
06:03
Use of Electromagnetic Navigational Transthoracic Needle Aspiration E-TTNA for Sampling of Lung Nodules
Published on: May 23, 2015
22.3K
Right Upper Lobe Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma with Atypical Carcinoid Features: Case Report.
Yelim Lee1, Ryan Rodrigs1, William Dean Wallace2
1Keck School of Medicine, The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Case Reports in Oncology
|October 30, 2024
Summary
This case report details a rare pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor (NET) initially diagnosed as atypical carcinoid (AC) but reclassified as large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). Molecular findings aligned with AC, highlighting diagnostic complexities in NETs.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) encompass distinct subtypes like atypical carcinoid (AC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC).
- AC is well-differentiated, while LCNEC is poorly differentiated, presenting a significantly poorer prognosis.
- These subtypes are generally considered genetically unrelated, making mixed presentations rare.
Observation:
- An 83-year-old male presented with hemoptysis and a right upper lobe tumor initially diagnosed as AC via biopsy.
- Excision revealed a tumor with alternating areas of AC and LCNEC pathology.
- Molecular studies showed no Rb1 or p53 mutations, aligning with AC characteristics.
Findings:
- The reclassified tumor demonstrated mixed pathological features of both AC and LCNEC.
- Despite mixed histology, molecular analysis supported an AC classification.
- The patient underwent successful surgical resection.
Implications:
- This rare case underscores the complex molecular heterogeneity within pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms.
- It highlights the critical need for comprehensive molecular analyses to refine diagnostic accuracy.
- Nuanced diagnostic approaches are essential for appropriate patient management and treatment strategies for NETs.
