Superficial head and neck metastases in adults with widespread cancer

In this study of 1,782 adult patients with disseminated malignancies, superficial soft tissue cervicocephalic metastases developed in about 1 in 20. In only six patients was the primary tumor located in the head or neck, and in one of these did it involve the skin or oral mucosa. In each instance the intraoral or extraoral soft tissue metastases were clearly apparent on physical examination. Biopsy should be performed on every newly formed persistent mucocutaneous lump or bump in the head and neck to rule out not only local tumor but metastasis from remote primary lesions.