Sinonasal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case report

Neuroendocrine carcinoma are rare tumor which begin in specialized cells called neuroendocrine cells. It can occur anywhere in the body. Most neuroendocrine tumors occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas. We reported a case of sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 65 year old lady who had presented with a history of right nasal obstruction, bloody nasal discharge, and recurrent epistaxis. On examination, a red, friable, polypoid mass with a tendency to bleed was seen in the right nasal cavity. Computed tomography revealed there was a enhancing expansile necrotic mass in right nasal cavity abutting the medial nasal wall. There was presence of mucosal thickening with inspissated secretion in all sinuses except left maxillary sinus. The patient underwent endoscopic removal of the tumour. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated carcinoma of right nasal cavity. Immunohistochemistry revealed small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. After that, the patient had postoperative external radiation treatment with a 6600 cGy dosage administered over 33 fractions. The patient had routine follow-up at the radiation oncology and otolaryngology outpatient departments throughout a 12-month period. During the postoperative month-to-month follow-up, there was no evidence of a local tumour recurrence in the endoscopy.