Small cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (SmNEC) is defined as the malignant neoplasm with Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation. SmNEC of urinary bladder is a rare entity accounting for 0.3 to 0.7% of all malignant bladder tumours. The largest case series to date includes 64 cases from multiple hospitals across the world. In the present series author undertook a retrospective analysis of clinicopathological and survival characteristics of all cases with immunomorphological diagnosis of primary SmNEC of bladder treated at our centre from 2015-2019. Indian literature describing this entity is still sparse, and to the best of our knowledge present study is the first of its kind from Southern India. Of the total 569 cases of bladder carcinomas reported in our institution, during the five year period, six cases (0.8%) were of primary SmNEC. All the cases were at stage III/IV at the time of diagnosis. Along with characteristic histopathological features, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16 and for NE differentiation- IHC-CD56 was positive in all cases leading to a definite diagnosis. Different modalities of treatment were offered owing to the lack of specific treatment guidelines. Median survival time was found to be seven months.
Rare Presentation of Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder
