Vol.98No.11contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 98 No. 11 November 2005
Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the
Hypopharynx: A Case Report
Takumi Okuda, Katsuhiro Toyama, Noriaki Nagai and Atsushi Haruta
(University of Miyazaki)
Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the hypopharynx is extremely rare.
A 72-year-old man complaining of sore throat and dyspnea was admitted to the university hospital. Tumors with a bleeding tendency were seen in both epipharynx and hypopharynx lesions. CT scanning revealed enhanced mass imaging in the sections of the epipharynx, hypopharynx and lymph nodes in the left cervical lesion. Based on the findings the stage was T4N2cM0. Pathological examinations after biopsy indicated a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Concurrent chemotherapy (CDDP/VP-16) and radiotherapy (45 Gy) were carried out. Because neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma belonged to the same categorical neoplasm, the regimen of so called "EP therapy" for the small cell carcinoma in the lung was adopted. This therapy was highly effective, and the primary lesion was reduced in size. The patient is still alive 24 months after bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis, 9 months after the primary treatment.
Key words : neuroendocrine carcinoma, hypopharynx, chemotherapy, radiotherapy