De novo small cell cancer of the prostate is a rare tumor and has different presentation, behavior, and outcome compared with adenocarcinoma.
A 66-year-old man presented with symptoms masquerading as a rectal tumor. Primary symptoms were intermittent constipation and diarrhea without any urinary symptoms. Initial staging showed only 2 large pelvic nodes. Prostate-specific antigen was 4.8 ng/L. A transrectal prostate biopsy confirmed small cell histology. After having no response to hormones and carboplatin-etoposide, a course of palliative radiotherapy, docetaxel chemotherapy, and defunctioning colostomy offered palliation. Liver and lytic bone metastases developed later; the patient died 9 months after the presentation.
Written by:
Dixit S, Coup A, Hunt C, Coombs L. Are you the author?
Castle Hill Hospital, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Hull, United Kingdom.
Reference: Urology. 2012 Nov;80(5):e58-60.
doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2012.07.052
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23107415
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