Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the head and neck is a rare and aggressive malignancy accounting for less than 1% of head and neck cancers.Its nonspecific presentation mimics squamous cell carcinoma, and immunohistochemistry is essential for diagnosis.We report two cases of NEC arising in the pharyngolaryngeal region.The first patient, a 50-year-old male, presented with oropharyngeal NEC with mixed small and large cell features and synchronous hepatic and pulmonary metastases; he was treated with palliative chemotherapy.The second, a 64-year-old male, had small cell NEC of the left aryepiglottic fold with a pulmonary nodule; he underwent CO2 laser-assisted supraglottic partial laryngectomy and pulmonary wedge resection, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Both cases were confirmed by synaptophysin and CD56 positivity.These cases underscore the need for accurate immunohistochemical diagnosis, comprehensive staging, and multidisciplinary treatment.
Tsagaankhuu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.