EXTRABRONCHIAL SMALL-CELL CARCINOMA - 6 CASES

Extrabronchial small cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an infrequent tumor with controversial histogenesis, clinical evolution and therapeutic strate gy. The aim of this study was to know the immunohistochemical features and the clinical evolution of patients diagnosed of ESCC during a 10 year period. All the diagnoses of small cell carcinoma (bronchial and extrabronchial) carried out by the Unit of Pathology between 1980-1989 were reviewed. In all the ESCC an immunohistochemical study was perfo rmed with three neuroendocrine markers, chromogranine, neurospecific e nolase and synaptophysine. The clinical evolution of the patients is d escribed. The 6 patients with ESCC represented 4.7 % of all the small cell carcinomas. The primary localization was: parotid, urinary bladde r, the skin, maxillary sinus and esophagus (2 patients). In five cases positivity was observed for one or more of the neuroendocrine markers . In two cases the ESCC was associated with differentiated cell popula tions (squamous carcinoma). The diagnosis of ESCC logically obliges th e bronchial origin and the presence of ectopic hormonal secretion synd romes to be discarded. The administration of chemotherapy regimes used in small cell lung carcinoma is advised.