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Tumours metastasizing to the head and neck – a report of seven cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Izumi Mochimatsu*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
Mamoru Tsukuda
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
Shigeru Furukawa
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
Shuji Sawaki
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
*
Izumi Mochimatsu, M. D., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236, Japan. Fax: 045-783-2580

Abstract

Metastatic tumours involving the head and neck region are rare. Over the past 18 years, seven such cases were treated at our clinic. Of those, four were in one of the paranasal sinuses, three had arisen from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma and one from an osteogenic fibrosarcoma of the leg. In the remaining three cases, metastases to the larynx, the tonsil, and the parotid gland arose from a primary renal cell carcinoma, a thyroid carcinoma, and a breast carcinoma, respectively. In metastatic tumours, the primary site can often be identified by the histopathological features. Accordingly, when malignant head and neck tumours are suspected of being metastatic in character, it is important to search carefully for the primary site.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1993

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