What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Prostate Gland
• LCNEC of the Prostate Gland
• Prostatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

What is Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Prostate? (Definition/Background Information)

• Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (LCNEC) of the Prostate is an extremely rare high-grade neuroendocrine tumor that is seen in the prostate gland
• Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are tumors showing neuroendocrine differentiation
• The prostate is a gland that encircles the urethra in males. It secretes a fluid that forms a part of semen

Incidence:

• Prostatic Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma is an exceedingly rare tumor
• A vast majority of prostate cancer cases are noted in men over the age of 45 years
• All races and ethnic groups are at risk

Risk factors: The risk factors for LCNEC of the Prostate are presently unknown.

Cause: The cause of tumor formation is presently unknown.

Signs and symptoms:

• The tumors can arise in a variety of anatomical locations including the prostate gland 
• The common signs and symptoms that may be noted include:
  • Hematuria (blood in urine)
  • Frequent urination at night (nocturia)
  • Pain when urinating
  • Abnormal pain in the bones
  • Hematospermia (blood in semen)
• Tumors are usually between 1-9 cm

Diagnosis:

• Blood and urine tests such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) test
• Radiological studies
  • Ultrasound of abdomen
  • CT and MRI scan of abdomen
• Tissue biopsy of the tumor is important to arrive at a definitive diagnosis
• The diagnosis of Prostatic LCNEC may be challenging: It is difficult to diagnose this type of tumor definitively since conventional prostatic adenocarcinoma may have occasional neuroendocrine differentiation when examined by a pathologist under the microscope

Complications:

• Emotional stress
• Tumor metastasis to different organs and regions
• Incomplete removal resulting in tumor recurrence

Treatment:

• The staging is based on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification
• Treatment depends on cancer stage and health of the individual
• It may require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy

Prevention: Presently, it is not possible to prevent the formation of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Prostate.

Prognosis:

• The prognosis depends on the stage of the tumor
• These tumors are typically high grade and have a poor prognosis