Metastatic endometrial carcinoma of the neck

We report a case of metastatic endometrial carcinoma of the neck. A patient with a past medical history of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, breast carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma presented with a neck mass. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed this to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma with squamoid features and thus a potentially curative neck dissection was performed. Histology of the mass showed a clear cell endometrial carcinoma. Metastatic gynacecological malignancies to the head and neck are rare and this is the first reported case of metastatic endometrial carcinoma in the neck.     

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma and was first described as a distinct entity in 1986. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma seems to have a poorer survival rate than classical squamous cell carcinoma. On the basis of a critical literature survey, we attempt to evaluate if basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is really more aggressive and presents a poorer outcome than squamous cell carcinoma. RECENT FINDINGS: All papers are retrospective, and most include small numbers of cases, which are further diminished when subdivided according to specific sites. Only in three studies was basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region compared with matched squamous cell carcinoma controls. These studies did not show a uniform tendency regarding the aggressiveness and outcome of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, several recent papers confirmed the presumed greater aggressiveness and worse outcome, and other recent papers questioned these characteristics. SUMMARY: The presented literature survey does not permit conclusions regarding the aggressiveness and outcome of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma. Greater numbers of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma should be studied and compared with site-matched, stage-matched, and age-matched controls of conventional squamous cell carcinoma.     

Anaplastic transformation of verrucous carcinoma following radiotherapy

A 58-year-old man with a verrucous carcinoma of the larynx initially underwent partial laryngectomy followed by radiotherapy when the carcinoma recurred locally. Subsequently, he developed an anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx ten months after radiotherapy, which eventuated in his death. The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of verrucous carcinoma remains controversial, and the risk of transforming the low-grade verrucous carcinoma to an anaplastic, metastasizing carcinoma is a real, although uncommon, complication.     

Invasive squamous cell carcinoma within verrucous carcinoma

A case of invasive squamous cell carcinoma within a verrucous carcinoma is presented in order to illustrate the potential problem of underdiagnosis of these lesions. The epidemiology, natural history and histopathology of verrucous carcinoma, and features which distinguish it from invasive squamous cell carcinoma, are reviewed. Unless rigorous attention is paid to histologic detail, a focus of invasive squamous cell carcinoma may escape detection and radiation-induced anaplastic transformation may later be suspected.     

喉癌肿瘤标志物和喉癌分子切缘及临床因素与喉癌复发的相关性研究

目的:从喉癌肿瘤标志物、喉癌分子切缘以及临床因素三个方面分析喉癌复发的相关因素.方法:应用免疫组织化学方法检测喉癌复发组与未复发组原发灶、喉癌外科切缘的CyclinD1、p27、p53以及eIF4E表达状况,通过回顾性分析103例喉癌的临床资料,探讨喉癌复发的临床因素;并综合三方面因素对喉癌复发进行多因素分析.结果:喉癌术后复发组与未复发组原发灶的CyclinD1、p27、p53表达差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05),eIF4E表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).两组切缘的CyclinD1、p27、p53、eIF4E表达差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05),喉癌复发组eIF4E切缘阳性表达率高于CyclinD1、p27和p53.喉癌术后复发与原发肿瘤部位、T分期、淋巴结转移、喉癌病理分化程度以及首次手术方式有关;与年龄、性别、是否术后放疗无关.Logitic多因素回归分析显示:喉癌术后复发与肿瘤T分期、淋巴结转移、喉癌病理分化程度以及首次手术方式有关.综合肿瘤标志物、喉癌分子切缘以及临床因素三个方面的Logistic多因素回归分析显示:喉癌术后复发与喉癌T分期、颈部淋巴结转移、病理分化程度以及分子切缘阳性有关.结论:影响喉癌术后复发的因素复杂多样;喉癌T分期高、有颈部淋巴结转移、病理分化程度差以及分子切缘阳性者术后容易复发;喉癌分子切缘阳性是更为敏感的喉癌复发因素.     

Cystic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck: Could a second metastatic focus help?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck presenting clinically as predominantly cystic lesion has often been considered as branchiogenic carcinoma in the past. However, such cystic lesions presently constitute a distinct form of head-neck metastasis, and a co-existent second metastatic focus could supposedly help distinguish them from branchiogenic carcinoma. We here present a case where, although the primary remained elusive, the associated spinal metastasis precluded us from diagnosing a cystic squamous cell carcinoma as branchiogenic carcinoma. Thus a second metastatic focus, if found, could add to the existing knowledge to distinguish between a cystic squamous cell carcinoma and the so-called branchiogenic carcinoma, especially when the primary could not be found.     

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract that has been correlated with a more favorable prognosis than conventional squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In this report, the authors present a case of papillary squamous cell carcinoma and a review of the literature on this topic.     

Verrucous carcinoma of the temporal bone

Verrucous carcinoma is a highly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. In the literature, 11 cases of primary verrucous carcinoma of the temporal bone have been reported. We present a 48-year-old woman who had undergone radical mastoidectomy because of chronic otitis media 20 years ago; consequently, verrucous carcinoma occurred in the mastoid cavity. We discuss verrucous carcinoma of the temporal bone with the review of literature.     

Lingual thyroid carcinoma with nodal metastasis

OBJECTIVES: To discuss treatment options and surgical management of lingual thyroid carcinoma with cervical metastasis. STUDY DESIGN: Lingual thyroid is relatively uncommon, and carcinoma of the lingual thyroid is extremely rare, with only 40 cases reported. We report a new case of a young female who presented with a cervical neck mass found to represent metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Further workup revealed the patient's only thyroid tissue was located at the tongue base and was the site of the primary tumor. Management of lingual thyroid carcinoma and review of the literature is discussed. METHODS: A case report and review of the literature of lingual thyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: A young female presented with a left neck mass diagnosed as metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Review of the computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a tongue base mass, absence of an othotopic thyroid gland and bilateral cervical lymphandenopathy. Bilateral selective neck dissections with removal of the tongue base lesion confirmed the diagnosis of lingual thyroid carcinoma with multiple left cervical nodal metastases. CONCLUSIONS: A case of lingual papillary thyroid carcinoma with cervical metastasis is reported. Treatment is best managed with surgical excision of all thyroid tissue followed by radioactive iodine ablation. Surgical approaches to the tongue base need to be considered based on the size of the lingual primary tumor and the need to address lymph node metastases gland. This is the first reported case in the literature of lingual papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with cervical nodal metastasis in a female with absence of an orthotopic thyroid gland. This is also the first report to show that papillary and not follicular cell carcinoma is the predominating histopathology in lingual thyroid carcinoma.     

Prognostic significance of the proline form of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/ HYPOTHESIS: An important tumor suppressor gene, p53, plays a role in the regulation of cell progression and prevention of carcinogenesis. Mutated p53 is related to cell progression and malignancy. We aimed to evaluate the association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 polymorphism. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS: All individuals were divided into two groups: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 50) and non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma groups (n = 59). Their p53 codon 72 polymorphisms (arginine [Arg] homozygotes, heterozygotes, proline [Pro] homozygotes) were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Associations between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 polymorphism were evaluated. RESULTS: Distributions of various p53 polymorphisms significantly differed between the two groups. We noted a dominant presentation of Pro homozygotes in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma population over that in the non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma population. Proportions of Pro homozygotes and heterozygotes and Arg homozygotes were 32%, 28%, and 40% in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma population and were 13.5%, 44.1%, and 42.4% in the non-nasopharyngeal carcinoma population, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: An association exists between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and p53 codon 72 polymorphism. The p53 Pro homozygotes are to a higher risk of development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.     

Primary small cell (oat cell) carcinoma of the larynx associated with an IgD multiple myeloma

Primary small cell (oat cell) carcinoma of the larynx is a rare condition. We report a case of primary oat cell carcinoma of the subglottic larynx associated with a synchronous IgD multiple myeloma (an unreported association). An increased incidence of carcinoma associated with plasma cell disorders has been reported, and the theories of this association are discussed. In a review of the reported cases, the most successful management of oat cell carcinoma of the larynx appears to incorporate a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Our case was treated with a combination of protocols used for oat cell carcinoma of the larynx and multiple myeloma. At 24 months after diagnosis, the patient is free of oat cell carcinoma, and the multiple myeloma is under control.     

多重癌的临床分析

目的探讨先证舌鳞状上皮癌(简称鳞癌)多重癌的临床特点和预后。方法中山大学肿瘤防治中心头颈科1992年1月～2001年12月收治580例舌鳞癌患者中,48例多重癌,其中先证舌鳞癌19例,回顾分析其临床和随访资料,探讨其临床特点和预后;Kaplan- Meier方法计算累积生存率。结果全组患者总的3年、5年生存率分别为30.3%、20.2%;第二原发癌19例包括口腔鳞癌9例(舌癌5例、软腭癌2例,口底和牙龈癌各1例)、食管鳞癌4例(其中发生在颈段1例)、肺癌3例,腮腺腺癌、喉鳞癌和乳腺腺癌各1例。两癌发生的中位时间间隔为78个月(范围:6～132个月)。结论舌鳞癌多重癌占全部舌鳞癌患者的8.1%,其中39.5%为先证舌鳞癌;第二原发癌63.1%发生在头颈部,该类患者预后较差,故加强舌鳞癌患者的随访及时发现第二原发癌甚为重要。     

Clinicopathological study of undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland

OBJECTIVE: Undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary gland is a rare malignant tumor, and is difficult to distinguish from other poorly differentiated types of carcinoma or sarcoma. The present study investigated clinical and pathological characteristics for undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with previously untreated carcinoma of the major salivary glands were treated at our institution between 1986 and 1999. Of these, five patients (two males, three females) were diagnosed with undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland and treated. For histological reinvestigation, multislices of resected specimens were made and diagnosed. RESULTS: Although all patients were treated by radical surgery (more than subtotal parotidectomy), all died of distant metastasis, including two patients with locoregional relapse. Tumors in these two patients included a small portion of poorly differentiated epidermoid or mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The remaining three patients did not show any differentiated portions, and histological findings demonstrated heterogeneous patterns of lymphoepithelial carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and unclassified (a pattern of malignant hemangiopericytoma), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Investigation using multislice sections is needed to diagnose undifferentiated carcinoma of the salivary glands. Regarding prognosis, carcinoma that is too poorly differentiated but including slightly-differentiated portions should be considered undifferentiated carcinoma. All patients died of distant metastasis despite radical surgery, suggesting that chemotherapy is needed to improve patient outcomes.     

Multifocal hyperfunctioning thyroid carcinoma without metastases

Hyperthyroidism due to thyroid carcinoma is rare, and most cases are caused by hyperfunctioning metastatic thyroid carcinoma rather than primary carcinoma. Among primary hyperfunctioning thyroid carcinoma, multifocal thyroid carcinoma is exceedingly rare, with the only one case being reported in the literature. Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old woman with multifocal functioning thyroid carcinoma. Technetium-99m (99m Tc) scintigraphic imaging showed four hot areas in the thyroid gland. Histopathological examination of all four nodules revealed papillary carcinoma, corresponding to hot areas in the 99m Tc scintigram. DNA sequencing of the thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) gene from all nodules revealed no mutation, indicating that activation of TSH-R was unlikely in the pathophysiogenesis of hyperfunctioning thyroid carcinoma in the present case.     

Verrucous carcinoma of the nasal cavity: a case report

We report a rare case of verrucous carcinoma occurring in the nasal cavity. A 53-year-old man reporting left-sided nasal obstruction and awareness of a left intranasal lesion--a whitish polypoid lesion--was found in CT to have an expansive lesion of the left nasal cavity and maxillary sinus. The tumor was completely removed by Denker's operation. Verrucous carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma most commonly seen in the oral cavity. In some cases, conventional squamous cell carcinoma components may be observed focally in verrucous carcinoma, called a hybrid tumor. In our case, the tumor showed typical features of a hybrid tumor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of hybrid verrucous squamous cell carcinoma originating in the nose in the Japanese literature.     

鼻咽癌的高家族聚集现象与遗传

目的通过鼻咽癌高家族聚集现象来探讨鼻咽癌与遗传的关系。方法调查分析家系图，二个家系皆为五代人，共171人，其中患鼻咽癌有17人。结果鼻咽癌是遗传因素与环境因素共同作用的多基因遗传病。结论鼻咽癌可能与遗传因素有关。     

Mixed medullary-papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a case report

With fewer than 40 cases described in the otolaryngology literature, mixed medullary papillary thyroid carcinoma represents a rare but phenotypically distinct tumor. While isolated medullary carcinoma may be admixed with normal follicular structures, true mixed carcinoma displays morphological and immunological characteristics of medullary and papillary carcinoma within a single lesion. We report the case of a 73-year old woman initially evaluated for a multinodular thyroid goiter. The patient denied a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or other endocrine neoplasms. Fine needle aspiration of a nodule of the thyroid isthmus suggested a follicular neoplasm with abundant Hurthle cells and colloid present. Considering these findings, the patient underwent a left thyroid lobectomy with isthmusectomy. Histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed a medullary thyroid carcinoma measuring 0.4 cm in size. Within this lesion, a distinct focus of papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular variant, measuring 0.1 cm was also identified. Mixed medullary-papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare clinical entity but merits consideration in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules particularly in patients with a family history of thyroid malignancy. The foundation of treatment of this lesion is total thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection in the clinically N0 neck and dissection of levels II-VII in the node-positive neck.     

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: a case report with electron microscopic findings

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland is a rare tumor. Histological and ultrastructural features of a primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in the right parotid gland is presented. Light microscopically the tumor consisted of poorly differentiated squamous cell nests. PAS reaction was negative. Ultrastructurally the tumor cells were oval or spindle shaped and the cytoplasmic processes were frequently found. The majority of the tumor cells contained numerous intermediate filaments in their cytoplasm. No secretory granule was found. The desmosomes were well developed. It is known that mucoepidermoid carcinoma may be often misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. These findings can enable us to distinguish primary squamous cell carcinoma from mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland.     

Late recurrence of cancer in the larynx and hypopharynx after irradiation

11 cases of recurrent laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma, occurring 5 or more years after radiotherapy for carcinoma, are reported. The possible pathological mechanisms involved include persistence of the original carcinoma, second primary due to the original factors, and radiation-induced carcinoma. The last-mentioned possibility is of vital importance and requires further investigation. If radiation-induced carcinoma is as common as some recent series suggest, then primary treatment of T1 laryngeal carcinoma must be re-thought. However, this author believes that convincing evidence is lacking that irradiation is a common cause of late recurrent carcinoma.