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A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: January 5, 2017
[Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the head and neck]
Dominik Stodulski1, Czesław Stankiewicz, Andrzej Skorek
1Katedra i Klinika Chorób Uszu, Nosa, Gardła i Krtani AM w Gdańsku.
Introduction:
The kidney is the third primary infraclavicular localization of malignant neoplasms metastasizing to the head and neck. The objective of this paper is to analyze the clinical presentation, diagnostic difficulties, management and outcome of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck.
Material And Methods:
Retrospective review of four patients with renal cell carcinoma who have developed head and neck metastases and have been hospitalized in the ENT Department of the Medical University of Gdansk over the past 35 years.
Results:
There were three women and one man in the examined material. The localizations of metastasizing renal cell carcinoma were: the larynx, the parotid gland, the cervical lymphnodes and the nasopharynx. In two patients metastatic tumor was the first clinical presentation of the disease and in the next two, time between treatment of the primary localization and occurring head and neck metastases was one and ten years. All patients, except one, were treated surgically. Two patients died, two are alive and the survival periods are one and three years.
Conclusions:
Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the head and neck region are infrequent but can cause difficulties in diagnosis and proper management. Despite of possibility of local excision, prognosis in metastasizing renal cell carcinoma is still unfavourable.
Insights
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the head and neck is rare, presenting diagnostic challenges. Despite surgical options, the prognosis for head and neck RCC metastases remains poor.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Nephrology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can metastasize to the head and neck, representing the third most common infraclavicular tumor localization in this region.
- This study analyzes the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, management, and outcomes of head and neck metastases from RCC.
Observation:
- A retrospective review of four patients with RCC and head and neck metastases treated over 35 years.
- Metastatic sites included the larynx, parotid gland, cervical lymph nodes, and nasopharynx.
- For two patients, metastases were the initial presentation; for the other two, metastases appeared 1 and 10 years after primary RCC treatment.
Findings:
- Three women and one man were included in the study.
- Surgical treatment was performed in all but one patient.
- Two patients died within one and three years, respectively; two patients survived with follow-up periods of one and three years.
Implications:
- Metastases from renal cell carcinoma to the head and neck are uncommon but pose diagnostic and management difficulties.
- While local excision is possible, the overall prognosis for patients with metastatic RCC to the head and neck remains unfavorable.
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