Clinicopathological features of Epstein-Barr virus-positive small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of nasopharynx
DU Mingzhan
YANG Qianqian
GUO Xia
SHI Weiqiang
Abstract：Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features of the Epstein-Barr virus-positive small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the nasopharynx.Methods Three cases which diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from 2008 to 2024 were collected.The clinical features,HE and immunohistochemical characteristics were analyzed and summarized.Results All 3 cases were male,with an average age of 50 years(46-55 years old).The tumor cells showed small cell morphology and nested distribution,with deeply dyed nuclei and fine chromatin.Some of the cells showed bare nucleus morphology,and some had a small amount of cytoplasm.The nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio was high,with no or indistinct nucleoli.The cells in some areas were highly squeezed,and numerous mitoses were easily observable.Immunohistochemically,the tumor cells were positive for CK(AE1/AE3)(3/3),Syn(3/3),CgA(2/3),CD56(3/3),and negative for p40(0/3),p63(0/3),CK5/6(0/3),CK7(0/2),S100(0/3),NUT(0/3),and Desmin(0/3).There was no deficiency for INI-1(0/3)and BRG1(0/3).The Ki-67 indicated a high proliferation index(80%-90%).The in situ hybridization assay showed positivity for EBV-encoded RNA(EBER).All 3 patients received chemotherapy,2 received radiotherapy,and 1 received a combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy.The follow-up time was 5-36 months.Two patients died and 1 patient survived with tumor.Conclusion Epstein-Barr virus-positive small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the nasopharynx is a rare nasopharyngeal malignant tumor,which requires Epstein-Barr virus detection.
Keywords：Small cell neuroendocrine carcinomaEpstein-Barr virusNasopharyngeal tumorClinicopathological analysisIn situ hybridization
Publication Date：2025-07-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-27(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 793-797 )