Goblet Cell Carcinoid/Carcinoma: An Update

Adv Anat Pathol. 2019 Mar;26(2):75-83. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0000000000000222.

Abstract

Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) or goblet cell carcinoma is a unique mixed endocrine-exocrine neoplasm that is almost exclusively seen in the appendix. The hallmark of GCC is the concentric infiltration of the appendiceal wall by small tight clusters, nests or cords of tumor cells that exhibit a goblet cell morphology with a small compressed nucleus and conspicuous intracytoplasmic mucin. The coexistence of high-grade adenocarcinoma with GCC has been increasingly recognized as a common finding, which has been called adenocarcinoma ex GCC or mixed GCC-adenocarcinoma. A number of studies have shown that it is the high-grade adenocarcinomatous component that dictates the prognosis. Several histologic classification/grading systems have been proposed, which correlate with overall patient survival. Treatment options are primarily based on tumor stage and the presence or absence of a high-grade adenocarcinomatous component.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoid Tumor / chemistry
  • Carcinoid Tumor / mortality
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / therapy
  • Goblet Cells / chemistry
  • Goblet Cells / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / chemistry
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / mortality
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor