Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Nasal Cavity – A Case Report and Brief Review of Literature.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the head and neck are rare aggressive tumors and pose a diagnostic challenge. Differentiation from nasopharyngeal malignancies is difficult due to similar morphological characteristics and small biopsy specimen. Distinguishing is important because of difference in natural history, prognosis and treatment among these neoplasms. We report a 60 year old man with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of nasal cavity. Histology reveals highly cellular tumor with small nuclei with stippled chromatin pattern and scanty cytoplasm. Immuno-histochemical stain showed positivity for chromogranin A and cytokeratin, confirmed our diagnosis.