Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the rectum

Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the rectum is rare. Most patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. These malignancies have a worse prognosis compared with conventional adenocarcinoma, and there is no stan- dard treatment protocol. We report herein a case of NEC of the rectum with a short survival. A 60-year-old female was admitted to the emergency service with jaundice, abdominal pain, back pain and confusion, without a history of rectal bleeding. The imaging studies showed a rectal tumor, abdominal lymph- adenopathies, and multiple liver and vertebral metastases. Rectal biopsy was performed. The histopathologic findings were consistent with those of NEC. Palliative radiotherapy was planned for the spinal metastases, but the patient died before completing radiotherapy, within 1 month from diagnosis. In con- clusion, these neoplasms show a dramatic course, particularly in metastatic pa- tients, and there is a clear need for studies involving larger numbers of colon and rectum NEC patients.