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Case Reports
. 2022 May 16:42:37.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.42.37.34513. eCollection 2022.

Poorly differentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine features in two patients with sinonasal tumours: a report of two cases

Victor Chimezie Okebalama  1 , John Ifeanyi Nwadiokwu  1   2 , Ehioghae Osaze  3 , Ayeni Akinwunmi Ayodeji  3 , Obinna Mike Chinatu-Nwankwo  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Poorly differentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine features in two patients with sinonasal tumours: a report of two cases

Victor Chimezie Okebalama et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors can be described as rare, heterogeneous, epithelial tumours with principally neuroendocrine differentiation that can be harboured in the sinonasal cavities. Owing to the intermingling of its clinical, radiological and histopathological features, the diagnosis of poorly differentiated sinonasal carcinomas with neuroendocrine features is a daunting one. Many of these tumours have a poor prognosis. In our two cases, patients presented with nasal cavity obstruction and growth of 8 & 5-months duration, respectively. Intranasal growths with intracranial extensions were noted in computed tomography scans in both patients. Our first patient failed to complete his cycle of induction chemotherapy (Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) and died 8 months after presentation while our second patient completed his cycle of induction chemotherapy but died 1year, 6months, after presentation, as he was unable to get the planned radiotherapy. Indeed, late presentations, intracranial metastasis, and poor treatment compliance can contribute to the poor outcome of these tumours.

Keywords: Poorly differentiated; case report; neuroendocrine; sinonasal; tumour.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(H & E x 100); sections show sheets and nests of pleomorphic cells having mainly hyperchromatic nuclei with mild to moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm, also seen is a focal area of necrosis (arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2
(H & E x 100); sections show sheets and vague nests of tumor cells having hyperchromatic to vesicular nuclei, indistinct nucleoli, and scant cytoplasm on a minimal fibrillary neural matrix, there are attempts at rosette formation in areas (Long arrow), also seen are atypical mitoses (short arrow)
Figure 3
Figure 3
(AE1/AE3 x 100); sections show tumor cells with strong cytoplasmic staining for AE1/AE3 immunohistochemical marker
Figure 4
Figure 4
(NSE x 100); sections show moderate staining for NSE immunohistochemical marker
Figure 5
Figure 5
(EMA x100); sections show tumor cells with strong cytoplasmic membrane staining for EMA immunohistochemical marker
Figure 6
Figure 6
(NSE x 100); sections show moderate to strong staining for NSE immunohistochemical marker
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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