Therapeutic outcome after resection of pulmonary metastasis from head and neck carcinomas

Hematogenous metastasis is the most common form of metastasis in head and neck cancer, and reports have described successful resection of pulmonary metastases of such cancers. We report treatment outcomes after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of head and neck cancer and identify prognostic factors. This clinicopathologic study investigated the clinical records of 16 patients with pulmonary metastases of head and neck cancer (excepting cases of thyroid cancer) who had undergone metastasectomy at our center during the period 2001-2012. The mean age of the 16 patients (11 men and 5 women) was 62.1 years. The mean interval between completion of successful treatment of the primary tumor and detection of pulmonary metastasis was 21 months (range, 6-56 months). All patients underwent pulmonary resection. The overall 1-year survival rate was 79.4 %, and the 2- to 5-year survival rate was 63.2 %. These rates compare favorably to those in previous reports on resection of pulmonary metastases. When prognostic factors for survival rates were compared, the factors associated with a negative prognosis were a disease-free interval of <12 months and partial resection of pulmonary metastases. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any prognostic factors associated with negative outcomes. Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of head and neck cancer might improve outcomes.