Synchronous p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and High-Grade Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Case Report.

Background and Clinical Significance: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) are biologically distinct entities with markedly different prognostic and therapeutic implications. While HPV-negative OPSCC carries worse outcomes than HPV-positive disease, SCNEC is exceedingly rare, highly aggressive, and prone to early systemic dissemination. Their synchronous occurrence in the head and neck (HN) is exceptional and poses major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Case Presentation: A 54-year-old male, smoker and alcohol consumer, presented with a left tonsillar lesion and cervical lymphadenopathy. Biopsy confirmed p16-negative OPSCC. He underwent transoral robotic surgery with modified radical neck dissection. Histopathology unexpectedly revealed two distinct malignancies: keratinizing OPSCC in the tonsil and high-grade SCNEC in a cervical lymph node, confirmed by immunohistochemistry (synaptophysin, CD56, Ki-67 80%). Postoperative FDG-PET/CT performed within two months showed rapid systemic spread, including paravertebral, pulmonary, and pelvic nodal metastases. Despite recommendation for systemic therapy, the patient deteriorated quickly and died shortly thereafter.

Conclusions

This study reports coexistence of p16-negative OPSCC and high-grade SCNEC in the HN. It highlights the diagnostic complexity, staging limitations, and therapeutic dilemmas of discordant histologies, while illustrating the fulminant clinical course typical of SCNEC of unknown origin. Early recognition, comprehensive pathology, and multidisciplinary management are essential, although prognosis remains dominated by the aggressive neuroendocrine component.