Primary pleural primitive neuroendocrine tumor: A rare entity

Abstract

The rare primitive neuro-ectodermal tumors (PNET) are classically described as tumors of the airways that can metastasize to the pleura. We describe here, a rare case of a PNET originating from the pleura in a 52-year-old, nonsmoker female. The patient presented with clinical features of a right sided pleural effusion. Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy revealed malignant small round cell proliferation consistent with PNET, and the final diagnosis was confirmed by immune-histochemical analysis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy, contrast enhanced computed tomography chest, and positron emission tomography scan did not reveal any primary lung lesion. The patient underwent pleurodesis for symptom relief but refused any definitive therapy.

Keywords

• Malignant pleural effusion
• primary pleural tumor
• primitive neuro-endocrine tumor