Long-term survival of a patient with primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the maxillary sinus: a case report

Abstract

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) of the paranasal sinuses is an extremely rare and distinctive tumor with aggressive clinical behavior. Moreover, SNECs originating in the head and neck region have been reported to be highly aggressive and to have a poor prognosis. This report describes a patient with a maxillary sinus SNEC who was successfully treated with induction chemotherapy using cisplatin and etoposide followed by concurrent chemoradiation therapy with cisplatin and etoposide as radiosensitizers. The patient has remained free of recurrence during 7 years of follow-up. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report describing long-term survival in a patient with a resolved primary SNEC of the maxilla that was successfully treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The clinical and pathologic features of the tumor and the optimal treatment of this patient are discussed.