Bone marrow invasion of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the endometrium: A diagnostic pitfall mimicking a haematological malignancy

Abstract

Metastasis of cancer cells to the bone marrow is relatively rare, despite being one of the most important causes of myelosuppression in patients with solid tumours. A bone marrow examination via a biopsy is the standard method of diagnosing cancer cell invasion into the bone marrow. However, it is sometimes challenging to distinguish neuroendocrine carcinoma cells from haematopoietic cells due to their small, round shape and chromosomal abnormalities resembling haematological malignancies. We herein report a case of bone marrow invasion of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the endometrium mimicking therapy-related myeloid malignancy.