An Unsusual Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumour of Head and Neck

Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) of the head and neck are a rare diverse group of tumours. In 2005 World Health Organisation (WHO) Classification of Head and Neck tumours lists 4 types of Neuroendocrine carcinomas: (a) typical carcinoid (b) atypical carcinoid, (c) small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine type and (d) combined small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine type with non-small cell carcinoma. There has been considerable debate about non-inclusion of large cell neuro endocrine carcinoma and need for further classification with inclusion of different terminology. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue base with bilateral neck nodes containing NET differentiation of small cell on one side and a large cell on the other. No such case is reported in the literature so far.