Abstract
A 76-year-old man presented with lymph node metastasis from auricular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Seven years ago, in 2007, he noticed a nodule on the posterior side of his auricle. Surgical excision with 10-mm margins was performed, but a sentinel lymph node biopsy was not done because of the lack of a hot spot with lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe detection. After surgery, the patient was examined twice yearly, and he noticed a subcutaneous nodule on the post-auricular area in 2014. A biopsy was performed, and the nodule was histopathologically diagnosed as lymph node metastasis of SCC. Selective neck dissection was performed followed by radiation therapy (X-rays, 60 Gy), and two metastatic tumors were found in the post- and sub-auricular areas. Usually, SCC metastases occur within one to three years after surgery. Metastasis seven years after surgery in this case is exceptionally rare. Careful follow-up by physicians and patient skin self-examination are important in long-term care after surgery for malignant cutaneous tumors.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2016 ; 31 : 16-20]
