Atypical metastasis to the head and neck region: an analysis of 11 patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: 

We present 11 patients with distant metastases to the head and neck from an infraclavicularly located primary tumor and discuss the management strategies including the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and prognosis.

METHODS: 

The retrospective data of the pathology reports and operation notes of 1239 patients who had undergone any kind of oncological surgical intervention between 2005 and 2017 were analyzed. All of the 11 patients included in the study were evaluated in our department's tumor board, and all patients with an operable lesion had undergone surgery. Inoperable patients were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

RESULTS: 

The average age of the patients was 64.3 (48-88) years. Primary tumors were located in the lung (2), breast (2), ovary (2), prostate (2), kidney (1), and colon (1) and the primary lesion could not be determined in one patient. The most common symptom was newly occurred painless swelling (9/11, 81.8%) at the metastatic site. Four patients without any other distant metastases were operated. Of these four patients, two died during follow-up due to systemic disease, and the other two are alive and disease-free. Three of the seven inoperable patients were treated with chemotherapy and the other four with radiotherapy. The prognosis of this group was worse.

CONCLUSION: 

Although metastasis to the head and neck is not common, it is vital to keep in mind while approaching a patient with a lesion at the head and neck region especially if there is a history of lung, breast, and genitourinary cancers. Despite the poor prognosis, diminishing the tumor burden would increase the treatment success.