title: Prognostic factors in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive biologic behavior. We conducted a retrospective study of 71 patients-58 men and 13 women, aged 28 to 88 years (mean: 71)-who had been treated at our university-affiliated tertiary care medical center for metastatic cutaneous SCC over a 15-year period. In addition to demographic data, we compiled and analyzed information on tumor characteristics, the site and extent of metastasis, treatment, follow-up, and outcome. Among the tumor factors, poorly differentiated carcinoma was an independent predictor of poorer disease-free survival, and older age was found to be an independent predictor of poorer overall survival. We found no significant difference in disease-free or disease-specific survival among patients with parotid involvement, neck involvement, or both. In our series, the site of nodal involvement appeared to have no prognostic significance in patients with metastatic cutaneous SCC of the head and neck.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel.
authors: Gideon
authors: G
authors: Bachar
authors: Aviram
authors: A
authors: Mizrachi
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Rabinovics
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Guttman
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Shpitzer
authors: Dean
authors: D
authors: Ad-El
authors: Tuvia
authors: T
authors: Hadar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*