Case Report
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2009; 15(2): 248-251
Published online Jan 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.248
A case report of endocrine cell carcinoma in the sigmoid colon with inferior mesenteric vein tumor embolism
Yusuke Tanoue, Nobutaka Tanaka, Yoshio Suzuki, Shoujirou Hata, Aya Yokota
Yusuke Tanoue, Nobutaka Tanaka, Yoshio Suzuki, Shoujirou Hata, Aya Yokota, Department of General Surgery, Asahi General Hospital, I-1326 Asahi, 289-2511 Chiba, Japan
Author contributions: Tanoue Y, Tanaka N, Hata S designed the research; Tanoue Y performed the research, analyzed the data and wrote the paper; Suzuki Y, Yokota A supervise research pathologically.
Correspondence to: Yusuke Tanoue, MD, Department of General Surgery, Asahi General Hospital, I-1326 Asahi, 289-2511 Chiba, Japan. goodyu59@hotmail.com
Telephone: +81-479-638111
Fax: +81-479-638580
Received: September 1, 2008
Revised: October 28, 2008
Accepted: November 4, 2008
Published online: January 14, 2009
Abstract

We report a case of endocrine cell carcinoma in the sigmoid colon with inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) tumor embolism. A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with narrowing of the stools. We performed colonoscopy, computed tomography and positron emission tomography, which disclosed sigmoid colon cancer with IMV tumor embolism. She underwent sigmoidectomy and lymph node dissection. The tumor was diagnosed as endocrine cell carcinoma (type 4, pSS, med, INF&agr;, v3, n1, stage IIIb). Immunohistochemically, chromographin A, synaptophysin, cytokeratin 20 and mucicarmine showed partial staining, and CD56 was totally reactive. Three months after operation multiple liver metastases appeared. She was treated with chemotherapy of cisplatin (CDDP) + irinotecan (CPT11). This case highlights the aggressiveness of endocrine cell carcinoma with tumor embolism, and it is essential to establish an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Keywords: Enteroendocrine cells; Tumor embolism; Carcinoid tumor; Colon cancer, Cisplatin; Irinotecan