Primary small cell neuroendocrine cancer of adrenal gland: a rare extrapulmonary small cell cancer

Small cell cancer is an aggressive neoplasm of neuroendocrine origin that is most commonly found in the lungs. However, up to 5% of cases can be extrapulmonary. These have been reported to be located in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems and rarely in other locations. Only five prior cases of small cell cancer have been reported where the primary lesion is at the adrenal gland. Here we present the case of a female patient in her mid-50s who presented with right upper quadrant pain and was diagnosed with metastatic small cell carcinoma of the adrenal gland. The patient received palliative chemotherapy for her metastatic cancer and was ultimately admitted to hospice after progression of her disease. This case and the accompanying literature review highlight a rare manifestation of extrapulmonary small cell cancer.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the breast: A review focused on the updated World Health Organization (WHO) 5th Edition morphologic classification

Neuroendocrine breast neoplasms are uncommon invasive carcinomas that have historically been poorly defined due to various definitions of what constitutes a neuroendocrine carcinoma. The 5th Edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Breast Tumors has moved to a dichotomous classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms in the breast in order to become standardized with classifications of other organ systems. Neuroendocrine breast neoplasms in the new edition are classified as "neuroendocrine tumor" and "neuroendocrine carcinoma." Key changes are exclusion of special histologic types (solid papillary carcinoma and hypercellular variant of mucinous carcinoma) and the inclusion of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Neuroendocrine tumors are genetically heterogenous and harbor molecular alterations that differ from invasive carcinoma, no special type. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (high-grade) show some overlapping molecular alterations with their counterparts in other organ systems. Data regarding the prognostic significance of neuroendocrine differentiation are conflicting, and histologic grade and tumor stage remain the main prognostic parameters. Current management of neuroendocrine neoplasms is not different from other types of breast carcinoma. This review will provide an update to the current WHO classification of neuroendocrine breast neoplasms and describe pertinent clinical, histologic, and molecular features of these uncommon tumors.