title: Primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the oral cavity: A case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) of the oral cavity is a rare and distinctive tumor with aggressive clinical behavior. Thus far, only a small number of cases have been reported and no definitive standard treatment strategy has been determined. The current study reports a case of oral SNEC arising in the lower gingiva in a 73-year-old male. Computed tomography displayed a relatively well-defined mass measuring 2.8×2×1.4 cm in size. The mass was located in the buccal side of the right mandibular posterior gingiva and exhibited no bony involvement. Histopathological examination revealed a proliferation of small cells with ovoid- to spindle-shaped nuclei, fine granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, scant cytoplasm and high mitotic activity. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase. Surgical resection and radical neck dissection were performed prior to the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy with a combination of cisplatin and etoposide. No evidence of local recurrence or metastasis was observed at 14 months post-surgery.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‑MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shao-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jia-Li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: gingiva; oral cavity; small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma