A Rare Presentation of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung

Abstract

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung is a rare form of pulmonary tumor, representing 2-3% of all non-small cell carcinomas. The large majority of patients who are diagnosed with this disease have a smoking history. We present a non-smoking patient with no prior medical history who presented with recurrent stomach pain and scalp lesions who was ultimately diagnosed with large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. Due to its rarity, there is little consensus on effective treatment and despite progressive therapy with currently recommended regimens, the patient ultimately passed from complications of the disease. The fact that the patient developed a form of lung cancer so highly associated with smoking history coupled with the uncommon presentation in such advanced disease is exceedingly rare.