Anorectal neuroendocrine carcinoma: observations on a case and review of the literature

Carcinoid tumours o/ the anorectum are rare (0,7% o/ malignant rectal tumours). Because o/ this rarity several aspects o/ the management o/ these tumours remain controversia!. Diagnosis may be delayed because o/ fa ilu re to recognize their morphological characteristics and histological appearance may not reflect their biological behaviour. lmmunocytochemistry flr neuroendocrine-cells are essential to identi/y different types o/ carcinoid tumours and to do diffirential diagnosis from other malignant tumours. All that allow an exact therapeutic approach to these tomours. The tumours less than cm l in diameter can be safèly treated by local excision; the tumours more than cm 1 in diameter are treated by radical surgery (AAP).