Neuroendocrine carcinoma causing common bile duct obstruction: a case report

Article type: Case Report

Keywords: periampullary neoplasms, common bile duct obstruction, periampullary carcinoma, jaundice

Authors: Richard Shamoon ⚬, Osman Elhassan ⚬, Lujain Al-Emadi ⚬, Abdulwahab Zabara ⚬, Mahir A Petkar ⚬, Sarah Sayed, Osama H Mohammad

Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Street 33, Industrial Area, Al-Rayyan, Doha, Qatar; Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), C-Ring Road, Hamad Medical City, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medicine, Al-Luqta St, Education City, Al-Rayyan, Doha, Qatar; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, Street 33, Industrial Area, Al-Rayyan, Doha, Qatar; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), C-Ring Road, Hamad Medical City, Doha, Qatar

License: © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press. CC BY 4.0 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article links: DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omaf011  |  PubMed: 40162142  |  PMC: PMC11952893

Relevance: Relevant: mentioned in keywords or abstract

Full text: PDF (993 KB)

Introduction

Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies originating from neuroendocrine cells, dispersed throughout the body. These cells possess the characteristics of both nerve cells and hormone-producing endocrine cells, enabling them to release hormones in response to neural signals [ref. 1, ref. 2]. NECs are malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) with poor differentiation and high proliferation rates (Ki-67 > 20% and/or mitotic count > 20 per 10 high-power fields). Accordingly, NECs show an increased tendency for distant metastasis, leading to poor prognosis [ref. 2]. Although neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are commonly identified in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, their occurrence in the biliary tract is particularly rare and poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges [ref. 3].

We present the case of a 46-year-old male diagnosed with NEC causing CBD obstruction. This case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and contributes to the limited literature on this rare entity, providing insights for clinicians to manage similar cases.

Case report

A 46-year-old Indian male presented to the emergency department with jaundice for one day and generalized body ache for two weeks. The patient had no gastrointestinal or urinary symptoms. The patient also reported a weight loss of 5 kg in the previous 6 months.

On presentation, the patient was oriented, stable, and comfortable. On physical examination, the patient had obvious jaundice, but no abdominal tenderness or hepatosplenomegaly. An ultrasonography revealed significant dilatation of the common bile duct (orange arrow) measuring 12.4 mm, without obvious ductal stones. The gallbladder also showed distension and edematous wall (green arrow) resembling features of cholecystitis, but no sizable stones could be detected. (Fig. 1).

Laboratory workup revealed hyperbilirubinemia and elevated hepatic and pancreatic enzymes (Table 1), while his hepatitis serology markers (Hep A IgM, Hep B Core Ab, Hep B Surface Ab, Hep B Surface Ag, Hep C Ab, Hep E IgM) were all negative.

Based on the above investigation, a MRCP was planned. An axial view (Fig. 2) showed a hypo-enhancing periampullary mass lesion, which was seen showing restricted diffusion (orange arrow) measuring approximately 15 mm in size causing abrupt cut-off of the distal CBD with post IV contrast injection shows hypo enhancement of the periampullary mass (purple arrow). MRI Axial T2 Haste image at the level periampullary region shows a rounded isointense lesion in the periampullary region bulging into the lumen of the 2^nd part of the duodenum (blue arrow), with dilated pancreatic duct (green arrow).

In coronal view at the same level (Fig. 3), a MRI T2 Haste shows abrupt cut-off of the distal CBD (orange arrow) with a dilated common bile duct (green arrow) and a mild degree of intrahepatic biliary dilatation (blue arrow). The CBD proximal to the level of obstruction measures approximately 12 mm in caliber. Mild dilatation of the pancreatic duct is noted giving the double duct sign (purple arrow) with the main pancreatic duct measuring approximately 6.7 mm in the region of the pancreatic head.

MIP image (B) from MRCP confirms the cut off at the distal CBD, with severe dilatation of the extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary tree, as well as dilated pancreatic duct.

Suspecting malignancy, a side view endoscopy was planned, and tumor markers (AFP, CA 19-9 and CEA) were ordered, which showed an ulcerated ampullary mass of ~1.5 cm in size causing common bile duct obstruction (Fig. 4) and a normal stomach and esophagus.

Tumor markers panel revealed elevated CA 19-9 levels (table 2).

A biopsy was taken and sent to the histopathology department. Histology from the periampullary mass biopsy (Fig. 5) revealed variably formed nests of tumor in the lamina propria, composed of large pleomorphic tumor cells, exhibiting granular nuclear chromatin (A). Mitosis was frequent and easily identifiable (B). The tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin (C) and chromogranin, and exhibited high proliferative index, with Ki-67 more than 70% (D). The morphology, immunohistochemistry and high proliferative index were in keeping with a diagnosis of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma.

An MDT was conducted for the patient, and a PET-CT was ordered to plan further management. Unfortunately, the patient missed his appointment, and additional attempts to contact him failed.

Discussion

According to the 2022 WHO classification of tumors [ref. 4], neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) [formerly known as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) before reclassifying them in the 2019 WHO classification of tumors [ref. 5]] include well-differentiated NETs and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). NECs are poorly differentiated high-grade epithelial neoplasms, which differ from periampullary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) by their molecular mutations, as NECs predominantly have TP53 or RB1 mutations, while MEN1, DAXX and ATRX are the entity-defining mutations for well-differentiated NETs [ref. 5].

Periampullary NECs are extremely rare tumors which represent a small part of the gastrointestinal NECs (0.9%–2% of primary ampullary tumors) and most of the time, they are localized in the ampullary region [ref. 6]. To be defined as a tumor of the ampulla of Vader, it should arise in the last centimeter of the common bile duct [ref. 7]. Even though they are relatively rare, they often tend to be more aggressive than duodenal NENs [ref. 8, ref. 9]. While our patient was a middle-aged man, most cases occur later in life (age 50s and 60s) and tend to be more predominant with women than men (3:1 predominance) [ref. 10].

Clinically, periampullary NENs can have the same presentation of symptoms of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which is most commonly is jaundice, abdominal pain and malaise, but other symptoms like steatorrhea, weight loss, or melena can also be present [ref. 11]. The Modalities for diagnosis can be endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and computed tomography (CT) can be used for staging [ref. 12]. In a retrospective study of 20 patients, it was found in half of the cases, the tumors did metastasize. Paradoxically, the smaller the tumor, the higher the chance for it to metastasize (66% for tumor < 1 cm, 50% for tumor 1–2 cm and 46% for tumor > 2 cm) [ref. 13].

As for treatment options, there is no consensus on the best course of management, which is expected given the small number of cases reported. However, most doctors recommend surgical resection, like the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, which believes it’s the most reliable curative treatment [ref. 14]. Two options for surgical resections are local resection and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). In a study comparing both, local resection was performed generally in tumors less than 2 cm and PD in larger ones. 3 of the 52 patients who underwent PD died of postoperative complications. Compared to 21 of the 22 patients who remained alive without tumor recurrences after local resection [ref. 15].

In alternative treatments, endoscopic papillectomy (EP) had shown promising results for small tumors without metastasis (less than 10 mm) [ref. 16]. While in metastatic or inoperable cases, systemic chemotherapy is indicated. Remission was induced in 55%–80% of patients with cisplatin/carboplatin and etoposide co-therapy [ref. 17].

For the prognosis, it was found that the 10-year survival rate is 71% for the well-differentiated tumor. However, it is 15% for the poorly differentiated NECs [ref. 3].

In conclusion, the case reports for periampullary NECs and NETs are relatively few and limited in information, and more research is needed to devise the best evidence-based management.

Consent

Written consent was taken for the publication of this case report.

Guarantor

Dr. Osama H. Mohammad.

Dr. Richard Shamoon.

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