An unusual case of multiple head and neck carcinoma with cutaneous metastasis

Abstract

The clinical presentation of multiple head and neck primary carcinomas is rare and may lead to the wrong diagnosis and treatment. The present case was of a 62 year old male who developed infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and got treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Subsequently after 3 years, he developed carcinoma tip of the nose. During work up for the same, there was accidental discovery of tonsillar adenosquamous carcinoma. The patient was treated for laryngeal carcinoma with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nasal tip carcinoma was treated with wide local excision with local flap reconstruction. Based upon histopathological examination and positron emission tomography (PET) scan for tonsillar adenosquamous carcinoma, the patient was referred for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Patients with head and neck carcinoma should be inspected thoroughly with any history or development of new lesions since prognosis in such patients is very poor. However treatment and management is always palliative and should be individualized to the patient.