Small-cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the submandibular gland: an extremely rare extrapulmonary site

The occurrence of small-cell undifferentiated carcinoma (SCUC) has seldom been reported in the submandibular gland. A primary SCUC with immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase and chromogranin-A antibodies was reported in the submandibular gland of a 39-year-old man. The patient received primary tumor excision and adjuvant chemotherapy with 6 courses of cisplatin and etoposide. The patient remained free of symptoms for 12 months after treatment. Submandibular gland is an extremely rare site of extrapulmonary SCUC. Primary tumor excision and adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide could be a viable option. The clinicopathologic features, differential diagnoses, and the nature of the disease are discussed.