Published online Sep 7, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i33.3806
Peer-review started: May 18, 2018
First decision: June 6, 2018
Revised: June 11, 2018
Accepted: July 21, 2018
Article in press: July 21, 2018
Published online: September 7, 2018
Processing time: 111 Days and 11.5 Hours
A 39 year old woman was admitted to our department because of intermittent bloody stools. The diagnosis was confirmed to be neurofibromatosis type I(NF-1) with multiple rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms, vascular malformations and scoliosis.
A female woman had a primary symptom of intermittent hematochezia without vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, skin flushes, etc.
There were three different diagnoses considered: hemorrhoids, rectal polyps and colorectal cancer.
Blood examination showed the hemoglobin levels of the patient was 101 g/L, without other abnormalities such as liver and renal function, tumor markers, etc.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest revealed enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, dermatologic nodules with long T1 and T2 values, uniform density, clear boundaries and diameters of < 10 mm. A pelvic MRI detected segmental thickening of the right external iliac vein. The middle and lower rectal mucosae were irregularly thickened, with 26.5 mm at the widest point and an irregular signal with long T1 and slightly longer T2 values.
Pathohistological and immunohistochemical examinations showed that neuroendocrine tumor cells were present in the lesions and mutually linked to form cord, nest, or gland-like structures. The tumor cells were round, oval or columnar, of varying sizes, with round nuclei, and without obvious mitosis. Cells were CD117 (-), CD56 (+), CK (+), CgA (+), Syn (+), and TTF-1 (-), with a Ki-67 index of < 2%. The subdermal nerve fibers were in a disordered arrangement, and the cells were elongated, spindle-shaped and oddly distributed in the light-stained collagen matrix. Immune staining revealed CD34 (+) and S-100 (+) expression, deep and S-shaped nuclei, and scattered mast cells.
Surgical intervention was advised, however the patient rejected surgery and favored surveillance by regular follow-ups every 3-6 mo.
Neuroendocrine tumors are commonly found in the duodenum and pancreas, and rare cases of NF-1-associated multiple rectal neuroendocrine tumors have been reported. We have summarized the relevant literature in the past 20 years and found that only one case, combined with NF-1 in 14 cases, reports of rectal multiple neuroendocrine tumors. In addition, this is the first case where NF-1 is complicated by abdominal iliac vein malformation.
Rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are often derived from peptidergic neurons and neuroendocrine cells of the rectal mucosal epithelium, and are often divided into functional and non-functional types. Non-functional NENs have no specific clinical symptoms. Imaging, endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy are used as the main diagnostic methods for non-functional NENs.
NF-1 diagnosis may be complicated by multiple system diseases. The clinical symptoms are complex, non-specific, and not easily identified. We need to develop individualized treatment based on the different symptoms of NF-1 patients. Although surgical and symptomatic treatments are currently preferred for multiple rectal neuroendocrine tumors, patients often require multi-system and multi-disciplinary comprehensive treatment.