Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus; clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of six cases

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma arising in the esophagus is a relatively rare disease. In the more common small cell carcinoma of the lung, the diagnostic significance of several new markers has been recently reported. This study used immunohistochemical techniques in addition to clinicopathological analysis, in order to clarify the utility of newer markers as biological parameters or as diagnostic tools. Six patients with small cell carcinoma of the esophagus were clinicopathologically analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using primary antibodies for bombesin, CD56 and CD57 in addition to conventional endocrine markers chromogranin A, neuron specific enolase and synaptophysin. All patients died within 2 years of surgery due to cancer recurrence, whether or not they had received adjuvant therapy. Pathological stages ranged from IIa to IVb and lymph node metastasis was observed in five cases. Of the six cases, four showed a positive reaction for bombesin and five were positive for CD57. In contrast, no cases revealed a positive reaction for CD56. The one case to survive 24 months after surgery was not shown to express bombesin, CD56 or CD57. Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus demonstrated an unfavorable prognosis. The study suggested that in this disease, bombesin and CD57 (but not CD56) were useful as biological markers, predicting clinical outcome rather than having diagnostic significance.

Lebermetastasen: Inzidenz und histogenetische Einordnung

“…Maligne Melanome, die ebenfalls einen spindelzelligen Aspekt aufweisen können, sind für Melanommarker (Melan A, S-100, HMB 45) positiv [36]. [39]. TTF-1 ist für kleinzellige Karzinome nicht als Hinweis für einen Tumor bronchopulmonaler Provenienz geeignet, da auch Kleinzeller anderen Ursprungs TTF-1-positiv sein können [40].…”

Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of Diverse Sites

“…Within the esophagus, squamous cell carcinomas may coexist with the NE component, while in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract, an associated adenocarcinoma may be present. 49,51 In the esophagus, the tumors may be flat and ulcerated, or polypoid, as it was in this case. 50 Rarely, the tumors may be superficial.…”

“…48 -50 The tumors are similar to small cell carcinomas of other sites and are characterized by sheets of cells with round to fusiform hyperchromatic nuclei, high mitotic index, and frequent areas of necrosis. 51 An interesting feature is the presence of a non-NE component in approximately 50% of the cases. Within the esophagus, squamous cell carcinomas may coexist with the NE component, while in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract, an associated adenocarcinoma may be present.…”

Primary small cell carcinoma of the lesser omentum

“…In a series of cases of EPSCCs reviewed, the most common sites were the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract [4e6]. Primary EPSCC has been described in different organs, including pleura [7,8], thymus [2,4,8], kidney [8,9], bladder [2,4], prostate [10,11], epididymis [12], endometrium [2], uterine cervix [2,13], ovary [2,4], salivary glands [1,2,4], sinuses [2,4,14], larynx [1], trachea [1], thyroid [4], lymph node [4,15], central nervous system [4], bone [15,16], skin [1,15], peritoneum [4], stomach [4e6,11], esophagus [2,17], liver [4,15], gallbladder [18], pancreas [11,15], appendix [19], and colorectum [4,6,20]. Primary peritoneal carcinomas are relatively rare [21].…”