Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ureter: A case report and literature review

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising in the ureter is extremely rare; only a few cases have been previously reported in the literature. The current study reports the case of a 65-year-old female who presented with right-sided back pain. A mass was identified in the right ureter, and a nephroureterectomy was performed. The microscopic examination revealed that the mass was composed of a monotonous population of small cells and that the cells of the carcinoma were positive for cluster of differentiation 56, chromogranin A and synaptophysin. The tumor was diagnosed as a ureteral neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma. The patient returned 4 months later with recurrences in the retroperitoneum. Chemotherapy was administered and following 80 mg/m(2) intravenous irinotecan on days 1 and 8 and 25 mg/m(2) cisplatin on days 1–3, every 21 days for 4 cycles, the tumor was considerably smaller. During the regular follow-up examinations, the tumor remained stable.