title: Bilateral synchronous tonsillar carcinoma: a case series and review of the literature.
abstract: We present the first dedicated case series of bilateral synchronous tonsillar carcinoma and discuss the role of bilateral tonsillectomy as a diagnostic tool. The occurrence of multiple head and neck tumours is well recognised; however, reports of bilateral synchronous tonsillar carcinoma are rare. A literature review reveals only 12 cases of bilateral synchronous tonsillar carcinoma described in the international literature in the past 15 years. We present a further three cases confirmed following bilateral tonsillectomy. In conclusion, bilateral tonsillectomy has in many centres been established as a standard diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for patients who have cervical metastases from a head and neck cancer of unknown primary site. It is likely the true incidence of bilateral synchronous tonsillar carcinoma is underestimated and under-reported. We recommend bilateral tonsillectomy for patients with suspected or proven unilateral tonsillar carcinoma as well as those with cervical metastases from unknown primary site.
authors.affiliation: Colchester General Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester CO4 5JL, UK. danielmoualed@cantab.net
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moualed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qayyum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahendran
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy