A Case of Endocrine Cell Carcinoma of the Rectum

Ichiro Fujiwara, Yasuyuki Kato, Kiyoshi Maeda, Kei Katsuragi, Kosei Hirakawa and Kousuke Hayashi*

Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine
Osaka Medical Prison*

A 43-year-old-man seen for lower abdominal pain and frequent diarrehea was found in colonofiberscopy, to have a large circumferential tumor of the rectum. Biopsy showed endocrine cell carcinoma (ECC) necessitating anterior resection with lymphadenectomy. He was, however, diagnosed with local recurrence 14 months after surgery. ECC often occurs in the rectum, has greater malignant potential in lymphatic, vascular, and liver metastasis, and presents the very dismal prognosis of postoperative death 1 year. Surgery alone thus does not appear sufficient, although the condition is rare and requires further study.

Key words
endcrine cell carcinoma, rectal cancer

Reprint requests
Ichiro Fujiwara Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine
1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku,Osaka, 545-8585 JAPAN

Accepted
March 30, 2005

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