Neuroendocrine carcinoma in a patient with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome.
BACKGROUND
A patient with Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) presented with gross hematuria of 6 months' duration. Imaging revealed the presence of a mass in the left prostatic lobe, in addition to a previously observed renal mass. Prostate biopsy and imaging findings indicated an inflammatory etiology, and the patient was discharged. 5 months later, the patient presented once again with urinary retention. During transurethral resection of the prostate, a mass adjacent to the bladder was observed. Postoperative imaging revealed a large pelvic mass, a second mass impinging on the rectum, and extensive lymphadenopathy. The patient died 2 weeks later.


METHODS
CT and MRI, physical examination, measurement of serum markers, urinalysis, transrectal prostate biopsy, histopathological and genetic examination of tumor specimens, postmortem immunohistochemical analysis.


METHODS
Neuroendocrine carcinoma of prostate or bladder origin.


RESULTS
The patient died before planned chemotherapy or radiation therapy could be implemented. More-frequent monitoring of the patient might have led to earlier diagnosis and allowed treatment to be started before widespread tumor metastasis and invasion.
Claessens
Tijs
T
Department of Dermatology, Research Institute Growth and Development (GROW), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, University of Maastricht, P. O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Weppler
Sherry A
SA
van Geel
Michel
M
Creytens
David
D
Vreeburg
Maaike
M
Wouters
Bradley
B
van Steensel
Maurice A M
MA
D058249:Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*