Small cell carcinoma arising from the outer urethral orifice: a case report examined by histologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical methods.

ABSTRACT

A case of small cell carcinoma arising in the outer urethral orifice is presented. The resected tumor showed a proliferation of small round or fusiform neoplastic cells in the submucosa. Tumor cells were arranged in sheets or a trabecular manner and possessed markedly hyperchromatic nuclei with a high NC ratio, closely resembling small cell carcinoma of the lung. Characteristically, pagetoid intraepithelial spreading could be identified. However, there was no evidence of in situ transitional cell carcinoma and adeno- or squamous cell carcinoma components anywhere. Ultrastructurally, each tumor cell contained only a few membrane-bound cored granules measuring 60-100 nm, which were compatible with neurosecretory granules, and desmosome-like intercellular attachments, but lacked aggregated microfilaments. By immunohistochemical examination, tumor cells were positive for epithelial markers, such as cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen, and neuron specific enolase, but negative for any other neuro-endocrine markers. Extensive systemic examination failed to show the primary site to be other than the outer urethral orifice. These findings indicate that the current tumor is a small cell carcinoma with neuro-endocrine differentiation arising from the outer urethral orifice.