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Metastasis to head and neck area: a 16-year retrospective study
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American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24 – 27 www.elsevier.com/locate/amjoto
Metastasis to head and neck area: a 16-year retrospective study Soussan Irani, MS⁎ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Received 9 August 2009
Abstract
Purpose: One of the most striking qualities of cancer is its spread throughout the body. The location of a metastatic mass may help to identify the primary tumor. Metastases to head and neck area can occur either from local structures or from distant organs. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective review of patients from a University Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during the period 1992 to 2008. The data were analyzed for sex, age, primary site of tumors, metastatic site, and histology of the tumors. The tumors were classified into 2 groups: intraoral and extraoral. Results: A total of 191 cases were found; of these, 118 (62%) were men and 73 (38%) were women. The most common intraoral primary site was tongue (anterior and posterior parts). Thyroid gland was the most frequent primary extraoral site. The most frequent metastatic site was the lymph node, and level II most commonly involved lymph nodes, followed by level I. Conclusion: Metastases are an infrequent finding in head and neck region and they may represent the initial manifestation of the disease. Diagnostic evaluation of metastatic lesion will detect the primary tumor. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction One of the most striking qualities of cancer is its spread throughout the body. The location of a metastatic mass may help to identify the primary tumor. Previous studies have demonstrated that all malignant cervical tumors are metastatic, except for lymphoma. In addition, asymmetric enlargement of one or more cervical lymph nodes in an adult is almost always cancerous and is usually due to metastasis from a primary lesion in the mouth or pharynx [1]. Metastases to head and neck area can occur either from local structures or from distant organs. In most cases, the head and neck region is the primary site for metastasis [2], but metastases may arise from outside of the head and neck region, including the lung, liver, bone, brain, and
⁎ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 365, Hamadan 65174-59114 Iran. Tel.: +98 811 8354016, 8354140, 0912 370 8936 (Mobile); fax: +98 811 8354220. E-mail address: [email protected]. 0196-0709/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2009.09.006
lymph nodes. Most metastases in the head and neck target the neck lymph nodes [3]. Metastatic tumors of the oral cavity are rare, representing about 1% of oral tumors. They affect the jaws much more frequently than soft tissues [4]. Metastasis to the mandible makes up more than 70% of all malignant metastatic tumors in the oral cavity [5]. To determine the frequency of metastasis to head and neck area, a retrospective study was conducted. The clinical and pathological data are reported here.
2. Materials and methods This study was a retrospective review of patients from a University Hospital in Tehran, Iran. During the period 1992 to 2008, records from the Department of Pathology were reviewed with attention to metastatic tumors in head and neck area. Histological confirmation of the metastatic lesion was obtained in 191 cases. The data were analyzed for sex, age, primary site of tumors, metastatic site, and histology of
S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27
the tumors. For better detailed analysis, the tumors were classified into 2 groups: intraoral and extraoral.
Table 2 Distribution of intraoral metastatic tumors by site and type Primary site Posterior tongue
3. Results Within the 16-year period of study, a total of 191 cases were found; of these, 118 (62%) were males, and 73 (38%) were females (Table 1). Average age for men was 57.2 years (range, 45–83 years), and for women, 30 years (range, 12– 49 years). As shown in Table 2 the most common intraoral primary site was tongue (anterior and posterior parts) with 19 cases (9%). According to Table 3, thyroid gland was the most frequent primary extraoral site (n = 59; 30%). The most frequent metastatic site was the lymph node with 180 cases (94%), and level II was the most commonly involved in lymph nodes with 129 cases (67%), followed by level I with 21 cases (10%). Supraclavicular lymph node involvement was detected in 10 cases (5%). Histologically, there was a predominance of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (55 cases, 28%) of which 23 cases (12%) developed in oral cavity. Papillary carcinoma with 49 cases (25%) formed the second largest group. The 2 most frequent primary sites histologically diagnosed as SCC were the tongue with 18 cases (9%) and the larynx with 10 cases (5%). Salivary gland metastases developed in 23 cases (12%), of which one was distant metastasis to the brain. Among the salivary glands, submandibular gland was the most commonly found primary site in 12 cases (12%). Lymph node metastases from lesions of salivary glands occurred in 22 cases (11.5%). Metastases to the parotid lymph nodes occurred in 15 cases (7.8%).The dominant histologic type for salivary gland tumors was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 13; 6.8%). Cutaneous metastases occurred in 10 cases (5%). Metastases to the parotid gland (n = 2; 1%) were associated with cutaneous primary malignancies in the head and neck area. Among patients with SCC, level II was the most frequently involved in lymph nodes (n = 39; 20%). The breast, with 4 cases (2%), was the most common primary site with distant metastases,
Table 1 Distribution of metastatic tumors by sex, age, and location Variable (191 patients) Sex Male Female Age b15 16-40 N40 Tumor primary site Intraoral site Extraoral site Lymph node metastases Extranodal metastases
No. of patients 118 73 3 56 132 33 158 180 11
25
Metastatic site Type of tumor
Level II Level II Anterior tongue Level I Floor of mouth Level I Level I Buccal mucosa Level I Level I Maxillary alveolus Level I Level II Palate Level II Mandible Level II
Number
SCC 13 Spindle cell tumor 1 SCC 5 SCC 5 Undifferentiated carcinoma 1 SCC 2 Undifferentiated carcinoma 1 SCC 2 SCC 1 Mucoepidermoid carcinoma 1 Ameloblastic carcinoma 1
followed by the stomach with 3 cases (1%). The bladder, with 2 cases (1%), was the most frequent site metastasizing to oral cavity, both to buccal mucosa. There was one unknown primary tumor.
4. Discussion Metastasis has been defined as the transfer of disease from one organ or part of an organ to another not directly connected to it. Tumoral cells penetrate into vascular or lymphatic channels, providing the opportunity for spread. Spread is dictated by local anatomy, and each site has its own pattern [6]. In the current study, most of the metastatic tumors to the head and neck region were found in men (n = 118, 62%). Patients were mostly older than 40 years (n = 132, 69%). This finding is in agreement with published reports [1]. In this series, lymph node metastases accounted for 180 cases (94%), of which level II metastases were the most frequent, with 129 cases (67%). Nodal metastases at level I (n = 16) and level II (n = 17) were the most common involved in lymph nodes from intraoral tumors. Level II was the most common lymph node metastasis from extraoral site tumors such as thyroid (n = 59), nasopharynx, and larynx (each 12 cases). Shah found the most common lymph node metastases from oral cavity tumors in level I, II and III, and level II, III and IV lymph nodes were at greatest risk for nodal metastases from the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx [7]. In the present series, involvement of supraclavicular lymph nodes (n = 12) with metastatic cancer occurred due to metastases from infraclavicular sites. This finding is in agreement with previous published reports [3]. In this study, the thyroid gland was the most frequent extraoral primary site with 59 cases (30%), and papillary carcinoma was the most frequent thyroid tumor with 49 cases (25%). By contrast, in one series, the rate of nodal metastases for papillary carcinoma, the most frequent metastatic thyroid tumor, was 50% [8].
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S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27 Table 3 (continued)
Table 3 Distribution of Extraoral metastatic tumors by site and type Extraoral primary site
Metastatic site
Thyroid
Level II Level II Level II Level II Level II Level II
Type of tumor
No. of patients
Papillary carcinoma 49 Medullary carcinoma 3 Anaplastic carcinoma 3 SCC 3 Follicular carcinoma 1 Nasopharynx Undifferentiated 10 carcinoma Level II Lymphoepithelioma 1 Level II SCC 1 Level III Undifferentiated 2 carcinoma Level III Lymphoepithelioma 1 Larynx Level II SCC 10 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Level II Small cell carcinoma 1 Submandibular Level II Mucoepidermoid 7 gland carcinoma Level II Adenocarcinoma 3 Level II Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Brain Adenocarcinoma 1 Parotid gland Parotid LN Mucoepidermoid 6 carcinoma Parotid LN Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Parotid LN Carcinoma 1 ex-pleomorphic adenoma Parotid LN Malignant mixed tumor 1 Parotid LN SCC 1 Maxillary sinus Level II SCC 2 Level II Lymphoepithelioma 1 Level II Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Level II Neuroendocrine 1 carcinoma Base of tongue Level II SCC 3 Tonsil Level II SCC 1 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Esophagus Level II SCC 3 Level II Adenocarcinoma 1 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Scalp Level V Malignant melanoma 2 Level V Angiosarcoma 1 Parotid LN Malignant melanoma 1 Breast Supraclavicular LN Ductal carcinoma 2 Skin of neck Ductal carcinoma 1 Sella turcica Ductal carcinoma 1 Skin of ear Parotid LN Basaloid SCC 1 Parotid Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Parotid Malignant 1 tricoepithelioma Stomach Supraclavicular LN Adenocarcinoma 2 Mandible Adenocarcinoma 1 External auditory Parotid LN Adenoid cystic 1 canal carcinoma Parotid LN Papillary 1 adenocarcinoma
Extraoral primary site
Metastatic site
Type of tumor
Bladder
Buccal mucosa Buccal mucosa
Adenocarcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Paraganglioma SCC Adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma SCC Malignant melanoma Adenocarcinoma Malignant round cell tumor Undifferentiated carcinoma Dysgerminoma Adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma Small cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma
Carotid body Lower lip Prostate
Level I Level I Supraclavicular LN Buccal mucosa Skin of neck Level II Skin of parotid Parotid LN Sublingual gland Level I Scrotum Supraclavicular LN Rectum
Supraclavicular LN
Ovary Kidney Liver Lung Unknown
Supraclavicular LN Buccal mucosa Supraclavicular LN Supraclavicular LN Cerebella
No. of patients 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; LN, lymph node.
In the current series, submandibular gland (n = 12) was the most frequent salivary gland to metastasize to lymph nodes (n = 11), followed by the parotid gland (n = 10), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most frequent histological type (n = 13). These results were similar to those showing that submandibular gland had the highest frequency of lymph node metastases, followed by parotid gland, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common histologic tumor [8]. Metastasis to the salivary glands is unusual but the parotid is the most common affected site [9]. The present report indicates that metastasis to the parotid gland was noted in 2 cases: one was undifferentiated tumor, and one was malignant trichoepithelioma. This is contrary to previous studies that revealed that SCC was the most frequent histologic tumor metastases to the parotid gland [10]. In the current study, the breast was the most common distant primary site. This finding disagrees with other studies showing the gastrointestinal tract as the most common distant primary site [3]. In this study, the most frequent primary intraoral site was the tongue with 19 cases, followed by the floor of mouth with 6 cases. In the Talmi et al [7] series, the most frequent primary intraoral site was the tongue with 16 cases, followed in frequency by the retromolar trigone with 3 cases. Here, metastases to the oral cavity were seen in 5; among them, 4 cases developed in oral soft tissues, all to buccal mucosa. This result disagrees with other studies showing that the jaw bones were the most frequent site for intraoral metastases [5] and also that the attached gingival was the most common metastatic site, followed by the tongue [4].
S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27
5. Conclusion Metastasis is an infrequent finding in head and neck region, and it may represent the initial manifestation of the disease. Diagnostic evaluation of metastatic lesion will detect the primary tumor. References [1] McGuirt WF. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Cummings ChW, Flint PW, editors. Cummings Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Elsevier Mosby; 2005. p. 2540-53. [2] Jones AS, Cook JA, Phillips DE, et al. Squamous carcinoma presenting as an enlarged cervical lymph node. Cancer 1993;72:1756-61. [3] Imamura SI, Suzuki H. Head and neck metastases from occult abdominal primary site: a case report and literature review. Acta Otolaryngol 2004;124:107-12.
27
[4] Hirshberg A, Shnaiderman-Shapiro A, Kaplan I, et al. Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity: pathogenesis and analysis of 637 cases. Oral Oncol 2008;44:743-52. [5] Irani S, Moshref M, Lotfi A. Metastasis of a gastric adenocarcinoma to the mandible: a case report. Oral Oncol EXTRA 2004;40:85-7. [6] McGuirt WF. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Cummings ChW, Fredrickson JM, editors. Otolaryngology head & neck surgery, vol. 3. 3rd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Mosby; 1998. p. 1743-6. [7] Talmi YP, Hoffman HT, Horowitz Z, et al. Patterns of metastases to the upper jugular lymph nodes (the ‘submuscular recess’). Head Neck 1998;20:682-6. [8] Johns ME, Nachlas NE. Salivary gland tumors. In: Paparella MM, Shumrick DA, editors. Otolaryngology, vol. 3. 3rd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Saunders; 1991. p. 2099-127. [9] Spiegel JH, Brys AK, Bhakti A, et al. Metastasis to the submandibular gland in head and neck carcinomas. Head Neck 2004;26: 1064-8. [10] Raut V, Sinnathuray AR, Primrose WJ. Aggressive treatment of metastasis to the parotid. Ulster Med J 2004;73:85-8.
American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24 – 27 www.elsevier.com/locate/amjoto
Metastasis to head and neck area: a 16-year retrospective study Soussan Irani, MS⁎ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Received 9 August 2009
Abstract
Purpose: One of the most striking qualities of cancer is its spread throughout the body. The location of a metastatic mass may help to identify the primary tumor. Metastases to head and neck area can occur either from local structures or from distant organs. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective review of patients from a University Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during the period 1992 to 2008. The data were analyzed for sex, age, primary site of tumors, metastatic site, and histology of the tumors. The tumors were classified into 2 groups: intraoral and extraoral. Results: A total of 191 cases were found; of these, 118 (62%) were men and 73 (38%) were women. The most common intraoral primary site was tongue (anterior and posterior parts). Thyroid gland was the most frequent primary extraoral site. The most frequent metastatic site was the lymph node, and level II most commonly involved lymph nodes, followed by level I. Conclusion: Metastases are an infrequent finding in head and neck region and they may represent the initial manifestation of the disease. Diagnostic evaluation of metastatic lesion will detect the primary tumor. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction One of the most striking qualities of cancer is its spread throughout the body. The location of a metastatic mass may help to identify the primary tumor. Previous studies have demonstrated that all malignant cervical tumors are metastatic, except for lymphoma. In addition, asymmetric enlargement of one or more cervical lymph nodes in an adult is almost always cancerous and is usually due to metastasis from a primary lesion in the mouth or pharynx [1]. Metastases to head and neck area can occur either from local structures or from distant organs. In most cases, the head and neck region is the primary site for metastasis [2], but metastases may arise from outside of the head and neck region, including the lung, liver, bone, brain, and
⁎ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 365, Hamadan 65174-59114 Iran. Tel.: +98 811 8354016, 8354140, 0912 370 8936 (Mobile); fax: +98 811 8354220. E-mail address: [email protected]. 0196-0709/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2009.09.006
lymph nodes. Most metastases in the head and neck target the neck lymph nodes [3]. Metastatic tumors of the oral cavity are rare, representing about 1% of oral tumors. They affect the jaws much more frequently than soft tissues [4]. Metastasis to the mandible makes up more than 70% of all malignant metastatic tumors in the oral cavity [5]. To determine the frequency of metastasis to head and neck area, a retrospective study was conducted. The clinical and pathological data are reported here.
2. Materials and methods This study was a retrospective review of patients from a University Hospital in Tehran, Iran. During the period 1992 to 2008, records from the Department of Pathology were reviewed with attention to metastatic tumors in head and neck area. Histological confirmation of the metastatic lesion was obtained in 191 cases. The data were analyzed for sex, age, primary site of tumors, metastatic site, and histology of
S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27
the tumors. For better detailed analysis, the tumors were classified into 2 groups: intraoral and extraoral.
Table 2 Distribution of intraoral metastatic tumors by site and type Primary site Posterior tongue
3. Results Within the 16-year period of study, a total of 191 cases were found; of these, 118 (62%) were males, and 73 (38%) were females (Table 1). Average age for men was 57.2 years (range, 45–83 years), and for women, 30 years (range, 12– 49 years). As shown in Table 2 the most common intraoral primary site was tongue (anterior and posterior parts) with 19 cases (9%). According to Table 3, thyroid gland was the most frequent primary extraoral site (n = 59; 30%). The most frequent metastatic site was the lymph node with 180 cases (94%), and level II was the most commonly involved in lymph nodes with 129 cases (67%), followed by level I with 21 cases (10%). Supraclavicular lymph node involvement was detected in 10 cases (5%). Histologically, there was a predominance of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (55 cases, 28%) of which 23 cases (12%) developed in oral cavity. Papillary carcinoma with 49 cases (25%) formed the second largest group. The 2 most frequent primary sites histologically diagnosed as SCC were the tongue with 18 cases (9%) and the larynx with 10 cases (5%). Salivary gland metastases developed in 23 cases (12%), of which one was distant metastasis to the brain. Among the salivary glands, submandibular gland was the most commonly found primary site in 12 cases (12%). Lymph node metastases from lesions of salivary glands occurred in 22 cases (11.5%). Metastases to the parotid lymph nodes occurred in 15 cases (7.8%).The dominant histologic type for salivary gland tumors was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 13; 6.8%). Cutaneous metastases occurred in 10 cases (5%). Metastases to the parotid gland (n = 2; 1%) were associated with cutaneous primary malignancies in the head and neck area. Among patients with SCC, level II was the most frequently involved in lymph nodes (n = 39; 20%). The breast, with 4 cases (2%), was the most common primary site with distant metastases,
Table 1 Distribution of metastatic tumors by sex, age, and location Variable (191 patients) Sex Male Female Age b15 16-40 N40 Tumor primary site Intraoral site Extraoral site Lymph node metastases Extranodal metastases
No. of patients 118 73 3 56 132 33 158 180 11
25
Metastatic site Type of tumor
Level II Level II Anterior tongue Level I Floor of mouth Level I Level I Buccal mucosa Level I Level I Maxillary alveolus Level I Level II Palate Level II Mandible Level II
Number
SCC 13 Spindle cell tumor 1 SCC 5 SCC 5 Undifferentiated carcinoma 1 SCC 2 Undifferentiated carcinoma 1 SCC 2 SCC 1 Mucoepidermoid carcinoma 1 Ameloblastic carcinoma 1
followed by the stomach with 3 cases (1%). The bladder, with 2 cases (1%), was the most frequent site metastasizing to oral cavity, both to buccal mucosa. There was one unknown primary tumor.
4. Discussion Metastasis has been defined as the transfer of disease from one organ or part of an organ to another not directly connected to it. Tumoral cells penetrate into vascular or lymphatic channels, providing the opportunity for spread. Spread is dictated by local anatomy, and each site has its own pattern [6]. In the current study, most of the metastatic tumors to the head and neck region were found in men (n = 118, 62%). Patients were mostly older than 40 years (n = 132, 69%). This finding is in agreement with published reports [1]. In this series, lymph node metastases accounted for 180 cases (94%), of which level II metastases were the most frequent, with 129 cases (67%). Nodal metastases at level I (n = 16) and level II (n = 17) were the most common involved in lymph nodes from intraoral tumors. Level II was the most common lymph node metastasis from extraoral site tumors such as thyroid (n = 59), nasopharynx, and larynx (each 12 cases). Shah found the most common lymph node metastases from oral cavity tumors in level I, II and III, and level II, III and IV lymph nodes were at greatest risk for nodal metastases from the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx [7]. In the present series, involvement of supraclavicular lymph nodes (n = 12) with metastatic cancer occurred due to metastases from infraclavicular sites. This finding is in agreement with previous published reports [3]. In this study, the thyroid gland was the most frequent extraoral primary site with 59 cases (30%), and papillary carcinoma was the most frequent thyroid tumor with 49 cases (25%). By contrast, in one series, the rate of nodal metastases for papillary carcinoma, the most frequent metastatic thyroid tumor, was 50% [8].
26
S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27 Table 3 (continued)
Table 3 Distribution of Extraoral metastatic tumors by site and type Extraoral primary site
Metastatic site
Thyroid
Level II Level II Level II Level II Level II Level II
Type of tumor
No. of patients
Papillary carcinoma 49 Medullary carcinoma 3 Anaplastic carcinoma 3 SCC 3 Follicular carcinoma 1 Nasopharynx Undifferentiated 10 carcinoma Level II Lymphoepithelioma 1 Level II SCC 1 Level III Undifferentiated 2 carcinoma Level III Lymphoepithelioma 1 Larynx Level II SCC 10 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Level II Small cell carcinoma 1 Submandibular Level II Mucoepidermoid 7 gland carcinoma Level II Adenocarcinoma 3 Level II Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Brain Adenocarcinoma 1 Parotid gland Parotid LN Mucoepidermoid 6 carcinoma Parotid LN Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Parotid LN Carcinoma 1 ex-pleomorphic adenoma Parotid LN Malignant mixed tumor 1 Parotid LN SCC 1 Maxillary sinus Level II SCC 2 Level II Lymphoepithelioma 1 Level II Adenoid cystic 1 carcinoma Level II Neuroendocrine 1 carcinoma Base of tongue Level II SCC 3 Tonsil Level II SCC 1 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Esophagus Level II SCC 3 Level II Adenocarcinoma 1 Level II Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Scalp Level V Malignant melanoma 2 Level V Angiosarcoma 1 Parotid LN Malignant melanoma 1 Breast Supraclavicular LN Ductal carcinoma 2 Skin of neck Ductal carcinoma 1 Sella turcica Ductal carcinoma 1 Skin of ear Parotid LN Basaloid SCC 1 Parotid Undifferentiated 1 carcinoma Parotid Malignant 1 tricoepithelioma Stomach Supraclavicular LN Adenocarcinoma 2 Mandible Adenocarcinoma 1 External auditory Parotid LN Adenoid cystic 1 canal carcinoma Parotid LN Papillary 1 adenocarcinoma
Extraoral primary site
Metastatic site
Type of tumor
Bladder
Buccal mucosa Buccal mucosa
Adenocarcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Paraganglioma SCC Adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma SCC Malignant melanoma Adenocarcinoma Malignant round cell tumor Undifferentiated carcinoma Dysgerminoma Adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma Small cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma
Carotid body Lower lip Prostate
Level I Level I Supraclavicular LN Buccal mucosa Skin of neck Level II Skin of parotid Parotid LN Sublingual gland Level I Scrotum Supraclavicular LN Rectum
Supraclavicular LN
Ovary Kidney Liver Lung Unknown
Supraclavicular LN Buccal mucosa Supraclavicular LN Supraclavicular LN Cerebella
No. of patients 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; LN, lymph node.
In the current series, submandibular gland (n = 12) was the most frequent salivary gland to metastasize to lymph nodes (n = 11), followed by the parotid gland (n = 10), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most frequent histological type (n = 13). These results were similar to those showing that submandibular gland had the highest frequency of lymph node metastases, followed by parotid gland, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common histologic tumor [8]. Metastasis to the salivary glands is unusual but the parotid is the most common affected site [9]. The present report indicates that metastasis to the parotid gland was noted in 2 cases: one was undifferentiated tumor, and one was malignant trichoepithelioma. This is contrary to previous studies that revealed that SCC was the most frequent histologic tumor metastases to the parotid gland [10]. In the current study, the breast was the most common distant primary site. This finding disagrees with other studies showing the gastrointestinal tract as the most common distant primary site [3]. In this study, the most frequent primary intraoral site was the tongue with 19 cases, followed by the floor of mouth with 6 cases. In the Talmi et al [7] series, the most frequent primary intraoral site was the tongue with 16 cases, followed in frequency by the retromolar trigone with 3 cases. Here, metastases to the oral cavity were seen in 5; among them, 4 cases developed in oral soft tissues, all to buccal mucosa. This result disagrees with other studies showing that the jaw bones were the most frequent site for intraoral metastases [5] and also that the attached gingival was the most common metastatic site, followed by the tongue [4].
S. Irani / American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 32 (2011) 24–27
5. Conclusion Metastasis is an infrequent finding in head and neck region, and it may represent the initial manifestation of the disease. Diagnostic evaluation of metastatic lesion will detect the primary tumor. References [1] McGuirt WF. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Cummings ChW, Flint PW, editors. Cummings Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Elsevier Mosby; 2005. p. 2540-53. [2] Jones AS, Cook JA, Phillips DE, et al. Squamous carcinoma presenting as an enlarged cervical lymph node. Cancer 1993;72:1756-61. [3] Imamura SI, Suzuki H. Head and neck metastases from occult abdominal primary site: a case report and literature review. Acta Otolaryngol 2004;124:107-12.
27
[4] Hirshberg A, Shnaiderman-Shapiro A, Kaplan I, et al. Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity: pathogenesis and analysis of 637 cases. Oral Oncol 2008;44:743-52. [5] Irani S, Moshref M, Lotfi A. Metastasis of a gastric adenocarcinoma to the mandible: a case report. Oral Oncol EXTRA 2004;40:85-7. [6] McGuirt WF. Differential diagnosis of neck masses. In: Cummings ChW, Fredrickson JM, editors. Otolaryngology head & neck surgery, vol. 3. 3rd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Mosby; 1998. p. 1743-6. [7] Talmi YP, Hoffman HT, Horowitz Z, et al. Patterns of metastases to the upper jugular lymph nodes (the ‘submuscular recess’). Head Neck 1998;20:682-6. [8] Johns ME, Nachlas NE. Salivary gland tumors. In: Paparella MM, Shumrick DA, editors. Otolaryngology, vol. 3. 3rd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Saunders; 1991. p. 2099-127. [9] Spiegel JH, Brys AK, Bhakti A, et al. Metastasis to the submandibular gland in head and neck carcinomas. Head Neck 2004;26: 1064-8. [10] Raut V, Sinnathuray AR, Primrose WJ. Aggressive treatment of metastasis to the parotid. Ulster Med J 2004;73:85-8.