Roy Hajjar*, Carole S. Richard, Francine Aubin, Marie-Pierre Campeau, Geneviève Soucy, Éric De Broux*
Hajjar et al. J Clin Transl Res 2021; 7(1):9
Published online: February 2, 2021
Abstract
Primary small-cell carcinoma of the anal canal is an exceedingly rare tumor with a poor prognosis even when aggressive therapy is initiated. We present the case of a 53-year-old male patient who presented with chronic anal pain. Examination under general anesthesia revealed the presence of a mass in the anal canal. A biopsy was performed, and histopathological examination showed a high-grade neuroendocrine small-cell carcinoma. Assessment with endoscopic ultrasound showed an invasion of the internal anal sphincter. The patient was treated with a chemoradiotherapy regimen consisting of cisplatin and etoposide, combined to radiotherapy. The patient achieved longterm remission with chemoradiotherapy. This is one of the first reports in the literature of a case of a high-grade neuroendocrine small-cell carcinoma of the anal canal where longterm remission was achieved with non-surgical management of a tumor invading the anal sphincter. This favorable evolution with chemoradiotherapy suggests that remission could still be achieved with anal small-cell carcinomas. More cases are however required to validate this approach.
Relevance for patients: This case presentation suggests that longterm remission can still be achieved using chemoradiotherapy and without an extensive surgical resection in patients with small-cell carcinoma of the anal canal.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.07.202101.009
Author affiliation
1. Digestive Surgery Service, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
2. Hematology Oncology Service, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
4. Department of Pathology, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
*Corresponding author
Éric De Broux and Roy Hajjar
Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
1000, rue Saint-Denis
Montréal, Québec, H2X 0C1
Tel: +1 514 890 8000
Email : ericdebroux@gmail.com
Handling editor:
Michal Heger
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Department of Pharmaceutics, Jiaxing University Medical College, Zhejiang, China
Downloads
Full text PDF
Review process file (195.3 KB)
