title: Cystic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck: could a second metastatic focus help?
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck presenting clinically as predominantly cystic lesion has often been considered as branchiogenic carcinoma in the past. However, such cystic lesions presently constitute a distinct form of head-neck metastasis, and a co-existent second metastatic focus could supposedly help distinguish them from branchiogenic carcinoma. We here present a case where, although the primary remained elusive, the associated spinal metastasis precluded us from diagnosing a cystic squamous cell carcinoma as branchiogenic carcinoma. Thus a second metastatic focus, if found, could add to the existing knowledge to distinguish between a cystic squamous cell carcinoma and the so-called branchiogenic carcinoma, especially when the primary could not be found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India. Electronic address: duttamainak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mainak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Sohag
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Branchiogenic carcinoma; Cervical metastasis; Cystic squamous cell carcinoma; Primary of unknown origin; Spinal metastasis