What is Small Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate?
Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare type of cancer that arises from the neuroendocrine cells of the prostate. Neuroendocrine cells are cells in the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that send and receive signals to perform actions between the brain and other glands and organs of the body. It is a deadly cancer with a poor prognosis (chances of being cured). The overall survival of patients with small cell carcinoma is 1-2 years after diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Disease Causes
Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare type of cancer that account for less than 1% of all types of prostate cancer. There is no well-known cause, but certain risk factors such as cigarette smoking, excessive use of certain drugs, and heredity and genetic predisposition are thought to be responsible for the development of small cell carcinoma of the prostate.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Frequent need to pass urine (pee)
- Pain while passing urine
- Pain while ejaculating or sexual activity
- Blood in semen
- Urine dribbling (Leakage of urine while coughing or sneezing)
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic tests can be used to make a diagnosis, these are- Digital Rectal Examination ( DRE)
- Imaging techniques like Pelvic-USG (ultrasonography), MRI, CT-Scan, and PET –scan to detect the size and extent of the tumor.
- Cystoscopy of the urinary bladder and the prostate
- PSA ( Prostate-specific antigen level)
- Trans-rectal needle biopsy
- Transurethral prostate resection
- Immuno-histochemical staining