Clinical investigation on pulmonary metastasis of head and neck carcinomas

To establish a treatment strategy for pulmonary metastases, we clinically investigated the characteristics of distant metastases from head and neck carcinomas.

In 636 head and neck carcinomas, the pathophysiology of distant metastases was investigated by charts, roentgenographies, computed tomographies and scintigraphies.

Of the squamous cell carcinomas, oropharyngeal tumors were most highly metastatic, followed by lower gingiva, floor of the mouth, maxillary sinus, and tongue. In distant metastases, 30 (4.7%), 5 (0.8%), and 7 (1.1%) metastasized to the lungs only, lungs and other organs, and organs excluding the lungs, respectively. In pulmonary metastases, the right, left and both lungs were involved in 18, 5, and 8 patients, respectively, although details were not obtained for 4 patients. Pulmonary metastases consisted of 1, 2, and 3 or more tumors in 18, 4, and 6 patients, respectively. Diffuse cancer cell infiltration was observed in 3 patients. Of the 42 patients with distant metastases, 12 patients died of progressive pulmonary metastases, and 5 of these patients manifested only 1 pulmonary lesion throughout life. However, the metastatic pulmonary tumors were controlled surgically or conservatively in 3 patients.

These results indicate that distant metastases from head and neck carcinomas involve the lungs most frequently and that chemoimmunotherapy and surgical removal of the metastatic tumors are recommended when indicated.