Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Pattern of regional metastases from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Barzilai G, Greenberg E, Cohen-Kerem R, Doweck I

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. geva_b@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE: To assess the pattern of regional metastases from SCC of the skin of the head and neck as a prognostic factor. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective chart review of 22 patients treated in a tertiary academic center. RESULTS: Metastases could be assessed clinically in the parotid gland and the neck in 50% and 59% of the patients, respectively. Histologic examination showed metastases in the parotid gland and the neck in 68% and 45.5%, respectively. Occult disease was 36% and 20% in the parotid gland and neck, respectively. The 1st echelon for metastasis was the parotid gland lymph nodes, whereas level II lymph nodes were the 1st echelon in the neck. Metastases to both the parotid gland and neck decreased the overall survival to 0, compared with 60% for metastases to the parotid gland and 100% for the neck. CONCLUSIONS: SCC of the skin of the head and neck with regional metastases has a high incidence of occult metastases in the parotid gland and the neck. Patients with metastases in both sites have a poor prognosis.

Published 9 June 2005 in Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 132(6): 852-6.
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