title: Synchronous metastatic adenoid cystic and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervical lymph nodes 31 years after ablation of the primary palatal tumour.
abstract: The coexistence of different types of malignancy in cervical lymph nodes has been reported previously. We report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of concurrent metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cervical lymph nodes. A primary SCC developed three decades after treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate, and the synchronous metastases became clinically apparent the following year. The aetiology of the SCC may have been related to radiotherapy or smoking. Whether the adenoid cystic carcinoma would have remained dormant, or was reactivated after perturbation of host defence mechanisms, is not known.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, Department of Histopathology, Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead RH19 3DZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: steliosdoumas@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Stergios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doumas
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Tighe
mesh_terms: D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery