Primary Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Palate with Cushing’s Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

We report a 24-year-old woman presenting with a relapsed soy-bean-size tender mass at the junction of the soft and hard palate and a history of palatine tumor of small cell carcinoma. Reexcision surgery was performed and histopathological features were consistent. The patient was treated with six cycles of chemotherapy consisting of etoposide and cisplatin. After one year, the patient developed bone metastases and Cushing's syndrome, and successfully recovered with subsequent chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin plus radiotherapy. There was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis for more than three years. Small cell carcinoma originating in the head and neck region has been reported to be highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. This is the first case report of a patient with relapsed primary small cell carcinoma of the palate and successfully treated with second-line chemotherapy and local radiotherapy.

Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: A Chronicle of Publications Based on the Largest Case Series and a Report of the First Greek Case

“…Paraneoplastic syndromes accompanied by the production of ectopic hormones are unusual [11]. However, a case is reported where a 24-year-old female patient with SCC of the palate, developed Cushing syndrome after the disease had metastasized into the liver [12]. Nearly all patients affected are Caucasians and male to female ratio is 4:1.…”

Primary small-cell carcinoma of the palate – the second case report worldwide

“…Extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma (EPSCC) accounts for 0.1–0.4% of all malignancies and represents 2.5–4% of all cases of small cell carcinoma [ 1 – 5 ].…”

“…The palate location has been described only by Song et al [ 1 ]. To our knowledge this is the second case report of a patient with EPSCC of the palate in the literature.…”