Large-cell neuroendocrine tumor of the prostate: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Abstract Background Primitive neuroendocrine prostate neoplasms are rarely reported. This entity comprises carcinoïd tumors and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, mainly those of the small-cell type. Large-cell-type primitive tumors are exceptional, and only nine cases are reported in the literature. Similar to neuroendocrine tumors of the prostate, large-cell-type primitive tumors may be observed in the context of conventional adenocarcinoma during androgen deprivation therapy or as prostatic metastasis of a distant neuroendocrine tumor, mainly pulmonary neoplasms. Case presentation We report a Caucasian case of a mixed prostatic carcinoma, with the largest component being the large-cell neuroendocine carcinoma, in a patient who underwent a total prostatectomy for a localized cancer. Diagnostic, histological, therapeutic and evolutive aspects are reported and discussed. Conclusions Large-cell primitive prostate neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare but aggressive histological entity, which can be associated or not with an adenocarcinomatous component. Mixed forms have a better outcome, mainly when diagnosed at an early stage.