Poorly Differentiated Small-Cell Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the Submandibular Gland

A Case Report

Scaduto, Dr. Mary MD
Matrka, Dr. Laura MD
Shah, Dr. Manisha MD
Wakely, Dr. Paul Jr. MD
Ozer, Dr. Enver MD

Department of Otolaryngology, Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, St. Louis
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.
Department of Pathology, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.

Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 456 W. 10th Ave., Suite 4A, Columbus, OH 43210. [email protected]

The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus. The case described in this article occurred when all the authors were at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Ear, Nose & Throat Journal 91(4):p E10-E13, April 2012. | DOI: 10.1177/014556131209100416

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is uncommon in the head and neck and rare in the salivary glands. In the latter location, it may manifest as pain or a palpable mass. These tumors can be quite aggressive, with a tendency toward recurrence and regional and distant metastasis. Because of the limited number of reported cases in the literature, no reliable treatment has been established. We describe the case of a 79-year-old man who presented with a persistent submandibular mass that was suspicious for a malignancy on imaging. Following surgical resection and histopathologic analysis, a diagnosis of poorly differentiated small-cell NEC was made. The patient was further treated with postoperative chemotherapy, and he exhibited no evidence of recurrence or metastasis on follow-up.