Original release date:  February 8, 2022
Access to this course expires on:  March 13, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
CME 1.5

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Course Description
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) arise in virtually every organ. The embryologic development of NEN has been the subject of controversy whether there is or is not a common neural crest origin. Under the premise of a common neural crest origin, the existence of a common biochemical pathway in neuroendocrine cells consisting of uptake and decarboxylation of amine precursors was postulated allowing for these cells to be identified histochemically and resulting in the use of the acronym APUD (Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation) to describe the cells in this system. Subsequent studies debunked a common neural crest origin and the classification Dispersed Neuroendocrine Cell System was adopted for NEN. The classification of NEN has undergone an evolution whereby current schemes irrespective of site of origin have suggested utilizing nomenclature established for gastrointestinal and pancreatic NEN. Aside from the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and lung, the head and neck region is among the more common sites of occurrence for NEN and within this region neuroendocrine carcinoma is most common type of site specific NEN. This talk will focus on neuroendocrine carcinomas of the head and neck reviewing their clinicopathologic features and discussing their inclusion within a uniform classification framework proposed for other site specific NEN.

Target Audience

Practicing academic and community pathologists, and pathologists-in-training

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:

• Discuss the embryologic development of neuroendocrine neoplasms
• Describe the diagnostic criteria for head and neck neuroendocrine neoplasms contrasting these criteria to those of other site specific NEN
• Determine whether the proposed common classification framework for NEN is applicable to head and neck NEN

Continuing Medical Education

The United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosures

The faculty, committee members, and staff who are in position to control the content of this activity are required to disclose to USCAP and to learners any relevant financial relationship(s) of the individual or spouse/partner that have occurred within the last 12 months with any commercial interest(s) whose products or services are related to the CME content. USCAP has reviewed all disclosures and resolved or managed all identified conflicts of interest, as applicable.

The following faculty reported no relevant financial relationships: Bruce M. Wenig, MD

The following planners reported financial relationships:
Yuri Fedoriw: Consultant, Alexion Pharmaceuticals; Grant or Research Support, BioFluidica
Jason Hornick: Consultant, Eli Lilly, Epizyme, Aadi Bioscience
Liron Pantanowitz: Consultant, Hamamatsu; Advisory Board Member, Ibex

The following planners reported no relevant financial relationships: Zubair Baloch, Daniel Brat, Laura Collins, Sarah Dry, William Faquin, Karen Fritchie, Jennifer Gordetsky, Kristin Jensen, Melinda Lerwill, Anna Marie Mulligan, David Papke, Jr., Carlos Parra-Herran, Rajiv Patel, Deepa Patil, Charles Quick, Raja Seethala, Olga Weinberg, Ilan Weinreb, Maria Westerhoff, Rhonda Yantiss, Nicholas Zoumberos.

USCAP staff associated with the development of content for this activity reported no relevant financial relationships.

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