title: Nine cases of carcinoma with neuroendocrine features in the head and neck: clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As neuroendocrine carcinomas in the head and neck region are extremely rare, their clinicopathological characteristics remain largely unknown. Moreover, the 2005 World Health Organization classification criteria for head and neck carcinomas with neuroendocrine features have numerous limitations. Therefore, the clinicopathological features and patient outcomes of these tumors must be clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2007 and 2012, we encountered nine cases of head and neck cancer involving a neuroendocrine carcinoma component. We investigated these tumors according to the 2010 World Health Organization classification criteria for neuroendocrine tumors, and their clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carcinomas with neuroendocrine features were found to have an aggressive clinical course, which corresponded with the Ki-67 index and mitotic count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to the difficulty in appropriately diagnosing head and neck carcinomas with neuroendocrine features using the current classification system, a new classification system should be developed for use in these cases.
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba takao0320@hiroshima-u.ac.jp sfujii@east.ncc.go.jp.
authors: Takao
authors: T
authors: Hamamoto
authors: Pathology Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan takao0320@hiroshima-u.ac.jp sfujii@east.ncc.go.jp.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Fujii
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba.
authors: Masakazu
authors: M
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Shinozaki
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba.
authors: Toshifumi
authors: T
authors: Tomioka
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba.
authors: Ryuichi
authors: R
authors: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: head and neck; immunohistochemistry; neuroendocrine carcinoma; small-cell carcinoma