Open AccessOropharyngeal Mixed Neuroendocrine-Nonneuroendocrine Neoplasm (MiNEN): A Case Report and Literature Review
Author(s) -
Liam Robinson,
Ciska-Mari Schouwstra,
W.F.P. Van Heerden
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
head and neck pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1936-0568
pISSN - 1936-055X
DOI - 10.1007/s12105-021-01312-w
Subject(s) - synaptophysin , pathology , chromogranin a , neuroendocrine differentiation , immunohistochemistry , medicine , lamina propria , neoplasm , neuroendocrine tumors , neuroendocrine carcinoma , head and neck , epithelium , surgery , cancer , prostate cancer
Primary mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) of the head and neck region is a rare biphasic tumor with an aggressive biological behavior. This report highlights an additional case of oropharyngeal MiNEN in a 46-year-old male patient with a previous long-term smoking history. Histologic evaluation revealed a biphasic tumor infiltrating the lamina propria. The first component consisted of a classic keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. The second component consisted of small-to-intermediate sized cells with neuroendocrine features. Synaptophysin and CD56 immunohistochemical stains confirmed neuroendocrine lineage in this component. The presence of two morphological components with neuroendocrine and nonneuroendocrine features on histologic assessment should alert the pathologist to consider a MiNEN in their case work-up.