Extrapulmonary oat‐cell carcinoma of the tongue: an electron‐microscopic study

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Abstract
An extrapulmonary oat‐cell carcinoma arose in the tongue of a 62‐year‐old man who had a long history of cigarette smoking and ethanol ingestion. At presentation, he had the primary tongue lesion and cervical lymph‐node metastases only, and search for a pulmonary primary was negative. Ten months later he died with metastases to liver, cerebrum, ribs, vertebrae, calvarium, and clavicle. Electron microscopy demonstrated cells with cytoplasmic processes and many dense‐core neurosecretory granules that had a tendency to concentrate in the processes. Cells were linked by desmosomes. Electron microscopy is necessary for definitive diagnosis of extrapulmonary oat‐cell carcinomas.