Metastatic Gastric Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Address for correspondence: Muhammad Wasif Saif, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 6N-435, New York, NY 10032 Clinical Pra ● Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is recognized as a distinct subset of neuroendocrine tumors defined by poorly differentiated morphologic characteristics and expression of the classic neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and chromogranin. LCNEC can occur in diverse locations; regardless of the location this tumor is generally associated with an aggressive clinical course and poor outcome. Most neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach are low grade, but gastric LCNEC (GLCNEC) has been described and behaves similarly to LCNEC at other sites. In patients with rapidly proliferating tumors (high Ki-67 index), fluorine18(F) fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is an important tool for diagnosis. Because of the rarity of these tumors, prompt diagnosis of GLCNEC may be challenging and requires a high index of suspicion.