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. 2016 Jul 6;6(3):31410.
doi: 10.3402/jchimp.v6.31410. eCollection 2016.

A rare case of carcinoid tumor in a tailgut cyst

Asad Jehangir  1 , Brian H Le  2 , Frank M Carter  3
Affiliations

A rare case of carcinoid tumor in a tailgut cyst

Asad Jehangir et al. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. .

Abstract

Tailgut cysts are rare congenital lesions that arise from the failure of regression of the embryological tailgut. We report a case of neoplastic transformation of tailgut cyst to carcinoid tumor which is exceedingly uncommon.

Keywords: carcinoid tumor; chromogranin A; neuron-specific enolase; synaptophysin; tailgut cyst.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A cystic structure within fibromuscular tissue showing a simple epithelial lining (H&E stain, 100× original magnification).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Some areas within the cyst show intestinal-type glandular elements, consistent with a tailgut cyst (H&E stain, 100× original magnification).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Within the cyst, there is a nested proliferation of glands imparting an organoid appearance, with cells showing a stippled chromatin pattern (H&E stain, 100× original magnification).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Synaptophysin immunohistochemistry, showing diffuse reactivity within the nested cellular proliferation, supporting neuroendocrine differentiation (100× original magnification).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Diffuse immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase within the nested cellular proliferation, also serving as evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation (100× original magnification).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
There is absence of immunoreactivity for chromogranin (100× original magnification), although the serum chromogranin level was elevated.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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