Finding a Needle in a Haystack: The Diagnosis of a Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor by Transrectal Prostate Biopsy
Introduction: Prostate biopsy, usually performed by a transrectal approach, is executed when there is a suspicion of prostate cancer. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are epithelial neoplasms with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation and only 19% of them are localized in the rectum. Case report: T...
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| Other Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | report |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2341-45452015000500008 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Oai: | oai:scielo:S2341-45452015000500008 |
| Summary: | Introduction: Prostate biopsy, usually performed by a transrectal approach, is executed when there is a suspicion of prostate cancer. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are epithelial neoplasms with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation and only 19% of them are localized in the rectum. Case report: The authors describe a 73-year-old man without a significant past medical history that underwent a prostate biopsy because of urinary complaints and elevated serum levels of prostate specific antigen. The histology revealed a well-differentiated NET characterized as a low-grade tumor (G1). A total colonoscopy revealed a 5mm sessile rectal polyp and in the splenic flexure a sessile lesion with central ulceration with 5 cm with histological features compatible with an adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: This is the first case reported in the literature of a rectal NET diagnosed by transrectal prostate biopsy. This case is particularly unique because the diagnosis of the NET lead to the subsequent timely detection of a colonic adenocarcinoma. |
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