Neuroendocrine tumor of thoracic spine: case report and literature review

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) generally arise from endocrine cells of gut and bronchi. Primary NETs of spine are extremely rare and have been described in cervical spine, lumbar spine, sacrum, and coccyx. So far, primary NETs in thoracic spine have not been reported yet. Here we described a 46-year-old Chinese woman with NET in thoracic spine. Neuroimaging revealed a mass behind the vertebral body of T11, abnormal changes in the adnexa and surrounding soft tissue and compression of the spinal cord. She received a total resection of the tumor and T11 corpectomy. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining proved the tumor to be a rare spinal NET. PET-CT and other examinations ruled out the existence of tumors in any other site. So, she was diagnosed with NET of thoracic spine. The patient received postoperative etoposide and nedaplatin chemotherapy for four cycles, and she recovered well with no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis during six-month medical follow-up. Spine location of NETs should be first considered as a metastatic disease unless there is proof ruling out the possibility. Complete tumor resection is the most effective therapy in NETs of spine and should be considered in priority, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be considered on an individual basis.