[Clinical analysis of myoepithelial carcinoma of head and neck].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate clinical feature, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) in the head and neck.


METHODS
Clinical data of 11 patients which were confirmed by pathology and immunohistochemistry in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1992 to Dec. 2006, were reviewed. There were 5 cases in parotid gland, 1 in hard palate, 1 in maxillary sinus, 1 in pharyngeal recess, 1 in bucca cavioris, 1 in scalp, and 1 in gingiva. Male female ratio is 4 to 7. The median age at diagnosis was 37 years (range: 14 - 60 years).


RESULTS
All cases were operated, 4 underwent surgery alone, 2 underwent surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy, 2 received surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy, 3 underwent surgery plus adjuvant chemoradiation. After operation, 8 cases occurred local recurrence and 4 cases occurred distance and lymph nodes metastasis. There was spindle cell type in 5 cases, clear cell type, plasmacytoid cell type in 2 cases, epithelioid cell type, mixed type in 1 case. The median follow-up time was 40 months. AS to the last follow-up time, 8 patients died.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics of the tumor were rapidly enlarging, invading the surrounding regions, high rates of lymph node metastasis, high rates of distance metastasis. It was easily recurrence if the surgical excision was not radically for MC, and the prognosis was poorly. MC was a sort of malignant tumor. Radical operation must be advocated initially. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be effective after operation.
Li
Chun-qiao
CQ
Department of Head and Neck, Cancer Center, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Guo
Zhu-ming
ZM
Liu
Wei-wei
WW
Zhang
Quan
Q
Yang
An-kui
AK
Yang
Lei
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult