Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Colon -Report of Two Cases-

Tadashi Ohnishi, Toshiyuki Kanoh, Masahiro Murakami, Hiromitu Hoshino, Yutaka Kimura, Takashi Iwazawa, Takeshi Tono, Yoshiaki Nakano, Hiroshi Yano and Takushi Monden

Department of Surgery, NTT West Osaka Hospital

We report 2 cases of colonic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Case1: A 62-year-old man diagnosed with ascending colon cancer and undergoing right hemicolectomy was histologically determined to have neuroendocrine carcinoma. Multiple liver metastasis was detected 2 months after surgery. Despite hepatic arterial infusion of 5-FU+CDDP, he died 11 months postoperatively. Case 2: A 71-year-old man diagnosed with descending colon cancer with multiple liver metastasis and undergoing descending colectomy underwent postoperative chemotherapy with hepatic arterial infusion of 5-FU and systemic infusion of 5-FU+isovorin. Although liver metastasis decreased in size, additional metastasis were detected to the peritoneum and lymph nodes around the left colic artery. He died 6 months postoperatively. Case 2 had a tumor showing the coexistence of 2 types of neuroendocrine carcinoma apparently differing in light microscopic appearance and expression of CEA, and thus was interesting considering tumorigenesis of this type of tumor. Because biological malignancy is quite high, combined therapy including surgery and chemotherapy, although not yet standardized, is required against neuroendocrine carcinoma. We discuss chemotherapy against this disease and review the Japanese literature.

Key words
neuroendocrine carcinoma of the colon, surgery, chemotherapy

Reprint requests
Tadashi Ohnishi Department of Surgery, NTT West Osaka Hospital
2-6-40 Karasuga-Tuji, Tennohji-ku, Osaka, 543-8922 JAPAN

Accepted
November 30, 2005

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