Laparoscopic port-site metastasis as the manifestation of neuroendocrine prostate cancer: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: The neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer is a rare entity that may occur as de novo, or as a result of treatment with androgen deprivation. It is characterized by its rapid progression and poor prognosis, without elevation of the prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is why it is often diagnosed by biopsy of a site of metastasis; there are no established treatment regimens. In this case, metastasis was presented as implantation to a laparoscopic port. These implantations subsequent to laparoscopic procedures in prostate cancer are very rare, with an incidence between 0.09 and 0.7%. The exact pathogenesis of the tumor implantation at the insertion site is not clear, there are several theories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe the case of a 53-year-old patient with a diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy plus lymphadenectomy, staged as PT3BN0 (0/6) M0R1 Gleason 4 + 5. The patient never had negative PSA levels after the treatment, and presented elevation of the same, so radiotherapy was performed at a dose of 66 Gy plus antiandrogen deprivation therapy with leuprolide acetate for 30 months, with a decrease in PSA to 0.011 ng/ml, which remained stable. After 3 months of hormonal therapy, he presented with an umbilical mass on the scar of the laparoscopic port; ultrasound and computed tomography were performed, showing a solid mass dependent of the umbilical upper edge with a defect in the abdominal wall of 3 cm, as well as hepatic nodules suggestive of metastatic lesions and peritoneal implantations. RESULTS: A biopsy of the abdominal wall lesion was performed, documenting poorly differentiated carcinoma with an immune-profile consistent with neuroendocrine carcinoma; immunohistochemistry showed strong and diffuse positivity with cytokeratin cocktail and chromogranin. In conjunction with oncology, treatment with chemotherapy was decided. He received six cycles of cisplatin and etoposide, with progression of his disease and death seven months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation is a rare entity, usually occurring in the castration resistance stage, with poor prognosis and survival of less than 1 year. It presents as clinical and radiological progression without elevation of the PSA. Although it is very rare, the possible causes include tumor implantation in laparoscopic ports and/or open surgery scars, so caution and certain precautions must be taken when performing radical prostatectomy. In case of suspecting a tumor with neuroendocrine differentiation, biopsy and immunohistochemistry studies should be performed in order to clarify the diagnosis and provide a multimodal treatment based on surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.