Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the tongue base: a case report / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC) is a malignant tumor derived from neuroendocrine cells, with distinct clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the head and neck is very rare in clinic. Larynx is the most common affected site, and the root of the tongue is extremely rare. The clinical manifestations are mainly eating pain, cauliflower like mass in the mouth, and ulcerative lesions that have not healed for a long time. Maxillofacial MRI and contrastenhanced CT are the most commonly used examination tools for such diseases, which can detect the spaceoccupying lesions of tumors. Neuroendocrine granules found in the cytoplasm under pathological light microscope can be diagnosed as neuroendocrine carcinoma. However, for most cases, it is difficult to make a diagnosis only under light microscope, and it is often necessary to make a diagnosis by means of immunohistochemistry and other technical means. This paper reports a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the root of the tongue, introduces its characteristics, diagnosis and treatment, and reviews the relevant literature of this case.