Small cell lung carcinoma in a patient with previously diagnosed Ménétrier’s disease: Is this another neuroendocrine manifestation of the neoplastic potential of this condition?

A 73-year old man with a history of Ménétrier’s disease developed a mass in the axilla. Histology revealed this to be a metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, most consistent with a lung primary. Computed tomography scan of the thorax showed a 28mm lesion in close proximity to the right bronchus intermedius. Cytological specimen from bronchoalveolar lavage yielded small cell carcinoma cells. Serum chromogranin A and serum gastrin levels were found to be significantly elevated. Ménétrier’s disease has been associated with malignancy especially neuroendocrine neoplasms. Small cell lung carcinoma is also a high grade neuroendocrine lung neoplasm. In this report we will bring forward hypotheses about possible links between the two conditions.