Endobronchial adenocarcinoma with endometrioid features and prominent neuroendocrine differentiation. A variant of fetal adenocarcinoma

Cancer. 1994 Mar 1;73(5):1383-9. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19940301)73:5<1383::aid-cncr2820730512>3.0.co;2-v.

Abstract

An endobronchial tumor, resected from a 77-year-old man, had an endometrioid histologic pattern consistent with fetal adenocarcinoma. A distinctive feature of the neoplasm was prominent neuroendocrine differentiation, including single, discrete neuroendocrine cells; aggregates of neuroendocrine cells resembling miniature carcinoid tumors; and a single focus of undifferentiated small cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of neuroendocrine cells revealed the presence of neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, somatostatin, insulin, and serotonin. The heterogeneous cell populations caused problems in differential diagnosis and histologic classification. This case demonstrates that fetal adenocarcinoma may occur as a central endobronchial mass and express a variable degree of neuroendocrine differentiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Lung / embryology
  • Male
  • Neurosecretory Systems / pathology*