Neck recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma in unusual sites: Retrospective study of 1658 cases

Head Neck. 2016 Apr:38 Suppl 1:E680-6. doi: 10.1002/hed.24070. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the frequency and prognosis of irregular neck recurrences in the prelaryngeal, parotid, and lateral retropharyngeal regions in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study.

Results: Twenty-four patients (1.4%) had irregular neck recurrences: 17 in the parotid (1.0%), 4 in the prelaryngeal (0.2%), and 3 in the lateral retropharyngeal (0.2%) regions. The 1-year/5-year overall survival rates after the N-relapse date for these areas were 40.0%/25.0%, 42.9%/20.0%, and 33.3%/0%, respectively. Patients with irregular neck recurrences had a poorer salvage success rate than controls (21.7% vs 68.8%, respectively; p < .001) as well as a significantly lower 5-year disease-specific survival (23.8% vs 60.8%, respectively; p < .001).

Conclusion: Patients with OSCC with irregular neck recurrences were extremely rare and had poor prognoses. The management of irregular metastases in patients with OSCC remains challenging for surgeons. Further study will be worthwhile to evaluate the best diagnostic and management strategies for unusual neck recurrences of OSCC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E680-E686, 2016.

Keywords: lateral retropharyngeal area; neck recurrence; oral squamous cell carcinoma; parotid area; prelaryngeal area.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neck Dissection
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Young Adult