Cutaneous metastases from neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix – An unusual metastatic lesion from an uncommon malignancy

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is an uncommon and aggressive type of small cell cervical cancer. NECs mostly arise from gastro-entero-pancreatic tract and the lung, but rarely from other organs like cervix. NEC of the cervix is a rare malignancy and constitutes 0.9% to 1.5% of cervical tumors. NEC of cervix are common in peri-menopausal females and presents with abnormal vaginal bleeding and mimics squamous cell cancers, usually with no distinguishing features. On Immuno-histochemistry (IHC), presence of chromogranin, synaptophysin and CD-56 is necessary to make a diagnosis of small cell carcinoma.
Source: Current Problems in Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research