title: Controlling distant metastasis and surgical treatment are crucial for improving clinical outcome in uncommon head and neck malignancies, such as non-squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The objective of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of uncommon head and neck malignancies, such as non-squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in order to improve patient outcomes. A total of 463 head and neck malignancies were retrospectively analyzed, with 43 cases (9.3%) diagnosed as non-SCC. The overall survival rate of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma was significantly worse compared to that of patients with SCC. The 5-year survival rates were <50% for patients with malignant melanoma, adenocarcinoma, small-cell carcinoma and sarcomas. Distant metastasis to the lung was frequently observed in cases with a poor outcome. Non-SCC malignancies treated without surgery were associated with a worse outcome. Some non-SCC patients had a poor prognosis and distant metastasis was associated with an unsatisfactory outcome. Timely treatment and control of distant metastasis are essential and surgical treatment should be prioritized in non-SCC cases to improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan ; Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiiba
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unozawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Morihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kouzu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasamatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawara
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uzawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan ; Division of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanzawa
keywords: distant metastasis; head and neck; squamous cell carcinoma