METASTASIZING NEUROENDOCRINE CARCINOMA OF THE LARYNX WITH CALCITONIN AND SOMATOSTATIN SECRETION AND CEA PRODUCTION, RESEMBLING MEDULLARY-THYROID CARCINOMA

A 55-year-old man presented with a metastasizing moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx (atypical carcinoid). Immunocytochemical demonstration of neuroendocrine markers (neuron-specific enolase and chromogranin-A) and presence of membrane-bound neurosecretory granules in the cells established the neuroendocrine nature of the tumour. In addition, the tumour was found to produce calcitonin, somatostatin and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). Calcitonin and somatostatin were also secreted. On the basis of this particular marker constellation the tumour closely resembles medullary thyroid carcinoma. Review of the recent literature on carcinoids of the larynx reveals immunoreactivity for calcitonin and CEA in a high percentage of cases. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.