Abstract
Two rare cases of metastatic tumor found in the head and neck region are reported.
Case 1; A 47-year-old female with a history of hepatoma operated on 2 years before was referred to our clinic because of a gingival mass. The biopsy showed histology of metastatic hepatoma. The gingival mass disappeared by radiotherapy. However, the patient died of the lung and brain metastases 4 months later. Autopsy revealed complete healing of hepatoma and no tumor cells were detected even by microscopic examination.
Case 2; A 67-year-old female visited our clinic because of a mass with soreness in the right ala of the nose. Because the mass seemed like as nasal furuncle, antibiotics was given initially which did not improve the condition. One week later, advanced gastric cancer was found by upper G-I series which was performed because of the complaints of anorexia and weight loss of one year duration. Then, the biopsied nasal mass was diagnosed as the metastatic tumor of gastric cancer. Exploratory laparotomy was done, but the primary lesion was inoperable. Although chemotherapy was given postoperatively, the patient died of peritonitis carcinomatosa 6 months later. Autopsy was not granted, but clinically no metastasis except that in the nose was seen anywhere.
When a mass lesion is seen in the head and neck region, we have to keep our minds also on rare metastatic tumors described in this paper.
