Clinical and therapeutic aspects of extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma.

Cancer Treat Rev

Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen and University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.

Published: May 2009

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC) is usually treated similarly to small cell lung cancer. Differences in aetiology, clinical course, frequency of brain metastases, and survival, however, warrant a differential therapeutic approach. In this review, we focus on the treatment of the most predominant sites of origin of EPSCC; the gastrointestinal tract, the genitourinary tract, the head and neck region, and small cell carcinoma of unknown primary. Furthermore we review the available data concerning the controversial issue of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) after optimal treatment of EPSCC. We found in the literature a significant lower incidence of brain metastases in EPSCC as compared to pulmonary small cell carcinoma when PCI is omitted and therefore we do not recommend PCI. An exception is EPSCC originating from the head and neck region which is associated with a higher incidence of brain metastasis, justifying addition of PCI.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2008.10.007DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

small cell
20
cell carcinoma
16
extrapulmonary small
8
brain metastases
8
head neck
8
neck region
8
incidence brain
8
small
5
cell
5
epscc
5

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!