Three cases of renal cell carcinoma metastasizing to the head and neck

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tends to metastasize hematogenously, although metastasis to the head and neck is rare. We report 3 cases of RCC head and neck metastasis within the last 6 years. CASE 1: A 74-yearold woman presented with cervical metastasis from RCC 4 years after right total nephrectomy, involving modified neck dissection. She later had additional surgery and radiation for further distant metastases, survived almost 5 years after the first neck metastasis. CASE 2: A 60-year-old man showed metastatic RCC in the right parotid gland 3 years after right total nephrectomy, involving superficial parotidectomy. CASE 3: A 54-year-old man presented with a metastasis lesion from RCC to the right maxillary sinus 7 years after left total nephrectomy, involving total maxillectomy. Distant metastasis reportedly often occurs long after initial primary RCC treatment. Physicians considering metastatic RCC in differential head and neck diagnosis and resection could conceivably promote better prognosis.     

鼻内镜或鼻内镜辅助下鼻腔鼻窦恶性肿瘤切除术的初步分析

目的：探讨鼻内镜或鼻内镜辅助下切除鼻腔鼻窦恶性肿瘤的可行性和疗效。方法：回顾性分析我院收治的40例鼻腔鼻窦恶性肿瘤患者的临床资料。病理类型为内翻性乳头状瘤恶变5例,上颌窦癌2例,筛窦癌3例,恶性黑色素瘤11例,嗅神经母细胞瘤7例,神经内分泌癌2例,肌上皮癌4例,鼻腔软骨肉瘤2例,腺样囊性癌3例,恶性血管外皮细胞瘤1例。所有患者均行鼻内镜或鼻内镜辅助下肿瘤切除术,其中32例术后采用放化疗。结果：所有患者随访1～5年,其中22例随访1～3年,随访3年以上者18例。4例患者术后6个月～2年症状复发,再次行鼻内镜手术后疗效满意;3例术后出现颈淋巴结转移,其中2例行颈淋巴结清扫术,1例因无手术指征而行放、化疗;4例出现远处转移;8例死亡;其余21例在随访期间未见复发及转移。结论：鼻内镜或鼻内镜辅助下手术切除鼻腔鼻窦恶性肿瘤切实可行,但必须严格选择适应证,辅以术后综合治疗,可取得满意的疗效。     

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the petrous apex

With the exception of moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx, neuroendocrine carcinomas are very rare head and neck malignancies. We report a case of a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the petrous apex of the temporal bone. This unusual site for this tumour has not yet been reported in the literature. We confirmed the location and extent of the primary tumour by positron-emission tomography scan. The final histopathological diagnosis was of small cell carcinoma, and this was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We treated this patient with surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After the treatment was completed there was subtotal remission of the tumour, with no distant metastases.     

Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site

Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon and aggressive primary neuroendocrine skin malignancy which mostly affects the extremities and the head and neck region of elderly patients. Merkel cell carcinoma occurs with increased frequency in sun-exposed areas, in individuals exposed to arsenic and in immunosuppressed patients. Many patients with Merkel cell carcinoma present with other malignancies, mainly skin cancers. Characteristic features are frequent recurrences and regional and distant metastases. Mortality rates range from 20 to 65 per cent. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, with wide local excision, and adjuvant radiotherapy is usually administered. Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site is rare, and the majority of the few cases described have not been from head and neck areas. We present a case of Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary site, with upper neck and distant metastases.     

The importance of multimodality therapy in the treatment of sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma

Sinonasal carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (SCND) is a rare group of tumors known for their aggressive behavior and poor response to treatment. The data in the literature are sparse and cover a wide range of therapeutic approaches over a protracted timeline. Therefore, it is important that institutions report on their experience with these rare neoplasms. Clinical data, such as age at diagnosis, gender, tumor subtype and stage, treatment intention and modality, recurrence, salvage treatment, and survival of patients with a SCND, diagnosed at our department between 1980 and 2010, were retrospectively analyzed. Fifteen patients were available for analysis; eight with sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), five with sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC), and two with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SmCC). The median age at the time of diagnosis was 68 years (range 28–87). Treatment consisted of surgery (2), radiotherapy (4), a combination of these modalities (6) and palliation (3). The estimated 5-year overall survival was 60 % for SNEC, 44 % for SNUC and 0 % for SmCC. According to our institutional experience an aggressive multi-modality approach incorporating (neoadjuvant) chemoradiotherapy, radical surgery and elective treatment of the neck is the best treatment strategy for SCND. The high propensity for distant metastasis and poor prognosis of SmCC warrants consideration of the impact of treatment on the remaining quality of life in these patients.     

头颈部转移性透明细胞癌5例并文献复习

目的 探讨泌尿系统透明细胞癌转移至头颈的部位和治疗方法.方法 总结我院2011年至2018年收治的具有完整临床资料的5例头颈部转移性透明细胞癌,分析原发疾病、原发病治疗方法、转移时间、转移部位、转移灶治疗方法、预后等临床资料.结果 5例透明细胞癌原发灶位于肾脏4例、膀胱1例,原发灶均行根治性手术.转移时间为原发灶术后1...     

鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌11例诊疗分析

目的 探讨鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌的诊疗方法及预后.方法 回顾性分析浙江省肿瘤医院1998-2010年收治的11例鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌患者的临床资料.其中小细胞神经内分泌癌10例,非典型类癌1例.参照Kadish分期本组患者A期2例,B期6例,C期3例.治疗方法采取单纯手术1例,单纯放疗1例,单纯化疗1例,放疗+化疗2例,以手术为主的综合治疗(手术结合术后放化疗)6例.结果 全部患者随访2个月至12年,综合治疗的6例中1例3年后死亡,1例4年后死亡,1例无瘤生存12年,另2例无瘤生存8年,1例仍在治疗随访中.其他治疗方案的5例中4例1年内死亡,1例1年半后死亡.结论 本病治疗并无统一方案,以手术为主的综合性治疗是较合适的治疗方案.神经内分泌癌易复发,预后较差,早期的准确诊断和综合治疗是提高本病生存率的关键.     

鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌8例并文献复习

目的 探讨鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌的临床特征、病理表现、治疗手段、预后及影响预后的因素.方法 回顾经病理证实的8例原发性鼻腔鼻窦神经内分泌癌患者的临床病例资料.结果 随访5～70个月,中位随访时间23个月,8例中典型类癌1例、不典型类癌4例、小细胞神经内分泌癌2例、复合型神经内分泌癌1例(低分化神经内分泌癌伴内翻性乳头状瘤...     

Breast metastasis from a pharyngeal carcinoma

The reported incidence of metastatic disease in head and neck cancer is increasing. The most common site of metastatic involvement in squamous carcinoma of the head and neck is the lung followed by liver, mediastinal nodes and bone. The breast is rarely infiltrated by metastatic disease, 2 per cent or less of clinically detected breast lumps being of non-mammary origin, most frequently malignant melanoma, lymphoma/leukaemia and primary lung carcinoma. A 73-year-old female presented with a primary posterior pharyngeal wall squamous carcinoma and bilateral enlarged neck nodes. She developed an isolated breast metastasis while receiving palliative radiotherapy and died seven months after presentation. Clinically detected breast metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was first documented by Toombs and Kalisher in 1977. This is the first report of such a case originating in the posterior pharyngeal wall. The prognosis is invariably poor.     

Carcinomas neuroendocrinos en ORL: Un diagnóstico difícil

Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the head and neck are infrequent. They appear as original tumours in this area, or more frequently as lymph node metastasis, while some of them are of unknown origin. We describe four cases diagnosed by pathological study of neuroendocrine carcinomas in the head and neck area since 2002. All of the cases were male, with a mean age of 59 years. In the two primary cases, the tumours were located inside the maxillary sinus and larynx; the other two were cases of cervical metastasis originating outside of the head and neck area. Three of them died in less than 18 months. We emphasise the wide distribution this kind of tumours has and the varying forms of associating; these factors make it difficult to join the symptomatology into a single group, as well as to arrive at the diagnosis and to carry out treatment.     

Abducent nerve paralysis: first clinical sign of clivus metastasis from tonsillar carcinoma

It is known that 15-20% of oropharyngeal carcinomas develop distant metastases that involve most commonly lung, liver and bone. Clival metastasis from oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has not been previously reported in the English literature. We describe the rare occurrence of clival metastasis from tonsillar carcinoma presenting with abducent paralysis and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic rational approaches. Despite neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatinum/etoposide/epirubicin followed by taxotere), extended left tonsillectomy and ipsilateral radical neck dissection and external radiotherapy (60 Gy) for tonsillar carcinoma, the patient developed clival metastasis and died of disease. The overall prognosis of patients with clival metastases is extremely poor, with an overall median survival of about 2.5 years. Cranial nerve palsy occurrence is associated with a poorer prognosis with an average survival of only 5 months.     

Ethmoid sinus cancer: results of treatment with surgery and combined therapy

OBJECTIVE: Ethmoid sinus cancer is a rare paranasal sinus malignancy. Its characteristics include a low incidence rate, a great variety of histopathological types and multiple treatment modalities. Currently, there remains no definite consensus regarding its optimal management. The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of a population of Asian patients with advanced ethmoid sinus cancers that had been treated with surgery plus combined therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1989 and December 2002 inclusive, 19 newly diagnosed patients with ethmoid sinus cancers who had undergone surgical intervention were enrolled, T4 being the principal carcinoma stage (68.4%). All participating cases proved to be node-negative and no evidence of any distant metastasis was detected at the time of diagnosis. The major treatment modality was surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy. All but 2 of the 13 patients with T4 cancer underwent craniofacial resection with pericranial flap reconstruction. RESULTS: The estimated overall and disease-free survival rates 3 years post-treatment were 49.4% and 26.3%, respectively. Local tumor recurrence was more common than regional recurrence and/or distant metastasis. A total of 5/15 T3-T4 patients (33%) developed a neck metastasis, 3 of whom also suffered a distant metastasis. There was no postoperative mortality for the cases treated with craniofacial resection. CONCLUSIONS: Ethmoid sinus cancer typically demonstrates a propensity for late diagnosis and poor prognosis. This study confirms that craniofacial resection plus combined associated therapy is the optimal approach for the effective management of extensive ethmoid sinus tumors and is associated with an acceptable morbidity rate. More aggressive disease management featuring prophylactic concurrent chemoradiotherapy including neck or elective neck dissection plus chemotherapy should be considered for T3-T4 patients as opposed to T1-T2 patients.     

The interesting case -- case no. 68. Metastasis of a small-cell bronchial carcinoma to the parotid gland

We present a case of a metastasis to the parotid gland from a small cell carcinoma of lung. The patient noted swelling in right parotid region without pain and saw an otorhinolaryngologist. There was no facial nerve palsy. He was admitted to our hospital. The total parotidectomy with facial nerve preserving was performed. The pathological findings indicated small cell carcinoma. After receipt of this report, we examined the lungs. An abnormal shadow could be found in the chest X-rays. CT revealed a lung tumor on a left site which was determined to be small cell carcinoma by transbronchial lung biopsy. Metastasis to the parotid glands from any distant primary site is quite unusual. In most cases of secundary parotid involvement of malignant tumors primary tumors originated from the head and neck region. Primary tumors in the neighborhood are the skin of the head and neck and the mucosa of the upper airway and digestive tract. Distant metastases to the parotid gland have been reported to arise from bronchial carcinoma, renal carcinoma, colonic carcinoma, prostat and breast. The distinction between primary salivary glands tumors and metastases of other primary tumors is difficult often. Histologic and immunhistological methods can be helpful.     

Metastatic carcinoma of the neck from unknown primary sites

Encountering a metastatic carcinoma of the neck from an unknown primary site is not unusual, despite intensive examinations of the entire body. In previous reports, the pathological diagnosis of these carcinomas was usually squamous cell carcinomas and rarely adenocarcinoma. We treated eight patients with metastatic carcinoma of the neck from unknown primary sites, including 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 2 cases of adenocarcinoma, one case of small cell carcinoma, and one case of clear cell carcinoma, during a 10-year period from January 1992 to December 2001. We clinically examined these eight cases, and focusing on the two cases of metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma from unknown primary sites. The 8 cases consisted of 5 cases of N2 and 3 cases of N3 disease. Three of the 5 N2 patients underwent a neck dissection, but all three of the N3 cases were judged to be inoperable. Disease-free survival was achieved in all 3 patients who underwent surgery. In this paper, we review 36 reports on metastatic carcinomas of the neck from unknown primary sites and statistically analyze 1454 cases. Pathologically, the majority of them (81.1%) were squamous cell carcinoma; adenocarcinomas accounted for only 7.6% of the cases. Notably, 65.0% of the patients with cervical metastatic adenocarcinomas were confirmed to have primary lesions outside the head and neck region. The prognosis of primary unknown metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma is reportedly poor, and the optimal treatment is still unclear, although surgery is recommended for primary unknown metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma. However, we suggest that intensive treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, of metastatic lesions of the neck may play a key role in improving patient prognosis.     

Incidence and sites of distant metastases from head and neck cancer.

The incidence of distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is relatively small in comparison to other malignancies. Distant metastases adversely impact survival and may significantly affect treatment planning. The incidence of distant metastases is influenced by location of the primary tumor, initial T and N stage of the neoplasm, and the presence or absence of regional control above the clavicle. Patients with advanced nodal disease have a high incidence of distant metastases, particularly in the presence of jugular vein invasion or extensive soft tissue disease in the neck. Primary tumors of advanced T stages in the hypopharynx, oropharynx and oral cavity are associated with the highest incidence of distant metastases. Pulmonary metastases are the most frequent in SCC, accounting for 66% of distant metastases. It may be difficult to distinguish pulmonary metastasis from a new primary tumor, particularly if solitary. Other metastatic sites include bone (22%), liver (10%), skin, mediastinum and bone marrow. An important question remains as to how intensely pre- and postoperative screening for distant metastases should be performed. Preoperative chest X-ray is warranted in all cases. If the primary tumor and nodal status place the patient at high risk for pulmonary metastasis, then preoperative computed tomography scan of the chest should be done. Screening for distant metastases at other sites is usually not indicated in SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract. Postoperatively, annual X-rays of the chest are usually sufficient, but in high-risk situations a chest X-ray performed every 3-6 months may be beneficial. Certain histologic types of primary tumor have greater or lesser propensity to metastasize distantly, and have a different natural history. Adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasizes frequently, even in the absence of extensive local or regional disease. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinomas also metastasize widely. Extensive evaluation for distant metastases is justified for these tumors. Knowledge of the natural history of various neoplasms and the factors that contribute to distant metastases as well as good judgement are essential for cost-effective treatment planning and decision-making with regard to pre- and postoperative evaluation for distant metastases in cancer of the head and neck.     

Distant muscular (gluteus maximus muscle) metastasis from laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Clinical evidence of non-lymphatic distant metastasis has been reported in approximately 10% of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The lungs are the commonest site of distant metastasis of HNSCC, followed by the bones, liver and skin. A 65-year-old male underwent supraglottic laryngectomy and left modified neck dissection for a carcinoma of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis extending to both false cords. Eight months later the patient underwent right radical modified neck dissection for hypodermal metastatic disease involving the underlying (sternocleidomastoid) muscle. Thirty-two months later, surgical excision of a lesion in the right gluteus maximus muscle was performed. Histological study diagnosed a muscular metastasis with the same morphological aspect as the laryngeal carcinoma. The patient showed no evidence of cervical or distant recurrence at follow-up after 13 months. Although skeletal muscles represent approximately 50% of total body mass and receive a large proportion of total cardiac output, haematogenous metastases to skeletal muscle are extremely uncommon. Most skeletal muscle metastases are of pulmonary origin. Distant skeletal muscle metastasis from HNSCC is an extremely rare occurrence. Treatment options, depending upon the clinical setting, include observation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and excision; these approaches rarely alter the patient outcome. The prognosis associated with skeletal muscle metastasis is thought to be poor, consistent with the fact that it generally occurs as a feature of systemic spread.     

鼻咽癌自然远处转移与放疗后远处转移的对比分析

目的：探讨鼻咽癌远处转移发生的时间规律。方法：对确诊后未经根治性治疗即已远处转移的患者（自然转移组）103例及放疗开始后出现远处转移的患者（放疗后转移组）138例的临床资料及远处转移发生的时间进行对比分析。结果：自然转移组从首发症状至发生远处转移的时间平均为10．78个月（95％CI：8．68～12．88个月）,放疗后转移组为20．77个月,其差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;自然转移组远处转移发生于2年内者占91．26％,而放疗后转移组至第4年才达到93．48％;自然转移组1、2年内发生远处转移比放疗后转移组分别高34．41％和28．94％;自然转移组远处转移100％发生于5年内,放疗后转移组远处转移有2．9％超过5年。自然转移组和放疗后转移组患者的性别、首发症状发生率,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,但放疗后转移组患者年龄偏小,T、N分期偏早（P〈0．05）。结论：放疗后转移者发生远处转移的时间比未经放疗而自然转移者至少推迟1～2年,可能与患者年龄偏小、病期偏早有关。     

Isolated intracranial metastasis from an early glottic cancer: how rare a presentation?

The incidence of distant metastasis with laryngeal tumors varies from 1–4% [1]. The lungs are the most frequent site, followed by bone and liver. Intracranial metastases are rarely clinically diagnosed in head neck cancer patients and if present are mainly located in the cerebrum and cerebellum. Early stage glottic squamous carcinoma with subsequent distant metastasis is rare [2]. We report a patient with T1N0 glottic tumor who underwent a curative radiotherapy and on 3 months follow up presented with isolated intracranial metastasis.     

Ethmoid sinus cancer: Results of treatment with surgery and combined therapy

Objective—Ethmoid sinus cancer is a rare paranasal sinus malignancy. Its characteristics include a low incidence rate, a great variety of histopathological types and multiple treatment modalities. Currently, there remains no definite consensus regarding its optimal management. The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of a population of Asian patients with advanced ethmoid sinus cancers that had been treated with surgery plus combined therapy.

Material and Methods—Between January 1989 and December 2002 inclusive, 19 newly diagnosed patients with ethmoid sinus cancers who had undergone surgical intervention were enrolled, T4 being the principal carcinoma stage (68.4%). All participating cases proved to be node-negative and no evidence of any distant metastasis was detected at the time of diagnosis. The major treatment modality was surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy. All but 2 of the 13 patients with T4 cancer underwent craniofacial resection with pericranial flap reconstruction.

Results—The estimated overall and disease-free survival rates 3 years post-treatment were 49.4% and 26.3%, respectively. Local tumor recurrence was more common than regional recurrence and/or distant metastasis. A total of 5/15 T3–T4 patients (33%) developed a neck metastasis, 3 of whom also suffered a distant metastasis. There was no postoperative mortality for the cases treated with craniofacial resection.

Conclusions—Ethmoid sinus cancer typically demonstrates a propensity for late diagnosis and poor prognosis. This study confirms that craniofacial resection plus combined associated therapy is the optimal approach for the effective management of extensive ethmoid sinus tumors and is associated with an acceptable morbidity rate. More aggressive disease management featuring prophylactic concurrent chemoradiotherapy including neck or elective neck dissection plus chemotherapy should be considered for T3–T4 patients as opposed to T1–T2 patients.     

头颈部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的诊治

目的 探讨头颈部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的临床特点、诊断和治疗。方法 总结1980年1月～2002年12月在我院手术治疗的6例头颈部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤，分析其临床特点、诊断和治疗过程。结果 6例病人的共同临床表现均为局部肿块合并或不合并肿块引起的功能障碍。病理表现为轮辐状排列的纤维母细胞，混杂有其他多种细胞成分，细胞有明显的异型性。6例病人均接受了局部扩大的手术切除，术后3例病人复发，其中2例死于颅内转移。1例有可疑胸壁转移，行局部放疗和手术切除。1例无瘤存活。1例术后失访。结论 头颈部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤在临床上少见，易于与其他肿瘤混淆；其临床特点是容易复发，容易转移；预后差。因此，对病情反复的可疑头颈部肿瘤病人应警惕恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的可能。对确诊为头颈部恶性纤维组织细胞瘤的病人应行扩大的手术切除和放疗，术后严密随访。