Background and Objectives: Nodal metastasis is one of the prognostic factors in salivary gland cancer. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors of nodal metastasis considered as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with salivary gland cancer. Material and Methods: The authors retrospectively studied 82 patients with salivary gland cancer who underwent surgery from 1992 to 2002. We analyzed age, sex, tumor size, histologic type and 5-year survival rate to compare patients with and without nodal metastasis. Results: Mean age was 55.4 years, with a male-female ratio of 1 : 1.28. The overall 5-year survival rate was 85.5%. Among the 82 patients, 14 patients had nodal metastasis. There was no nodal metastasis in low grade malignancy. In patients without nodal metastasis, mean age was 52.5 years and the overall 5-year survival rate was 94.2%. In patients with nodal metastasis, mean age was 69.4 years and the overall 5-year survival rate was 42.9%. In patients with less advanced cancer (T1-T2 stage), the nodal metastasis was 7.5% and with advanced cancer (T3-T4 stage), 33.3%. Conclusion: Nodal metastasis significantly decreases survival in patients with salivary gland malignancy. High grade malignancy, large tumor size and old age are important risk factors of nodal metastasis. Nodal metastasis is more common in submandibular gland cancer compared with parotid gland cancer.

Background and Objectives: Brain metastasis from well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is uncommon, and the treatment remains controversial. In this study, we analyzed cases of brain metastasis from well differentiated thyroid carcinoma to determine optimal treatment. Material and Methods: From March 1986 to May 2003, we experienced 13 cases of brain metastases from well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas. There were 6 men and 7 women with a mean age of 62.3 years. The time interval detecting the brain metastasis, treatment methods, outcomes, and the prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: In 11 patients, brain metastasis was found at a mean of 96 months after thyroid surgery (range, 1-204months). In 1 patient, brain metastasis was found simultaneously with the thyroid cancer. In the remaining one, brain metastasis was presented as the first sign. Treatment included gamma knife therapy in 2, external radiation therapy (ExRT) in 2, resection and ExRT in 2, gamma knife therapy and ExRT in 2 and intracranial holmium injection in 1. Three patients received no treatment. The mean survival was 20.5months (1-119 months). Only 2 patients with early detection remained alive after treatment (23months and 119months). The age, sex, primary tumor size, combined organs of distant metastasis and treatment methods did not affect the prognosis. There were noticeable symptomatic improvements in patients who received any kind of treatment for brain metastasis. Conclusion: Early detection and treatment of brain metastasis appears to bring symptomatic relief and improve survival. Therefore, early screening for brain metastasis is recommended for patients with symptoms. However, further study is needed to determine the optimal method of treatment.

Objectives: Cancer lethality is usually the result of local invasion and metastasis of neoplastic cell from the primary tumor. Because of their ability to degrade extracellular matrix components, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have been implicated in the breakdown of basement membrane and underlying stroma, thereby facilitating tumor growth and invasion. It has been well established that MMPs and bFGF expression correlate with cervical lymph node metastasis, but studies on expression in the metastatic cervical lymph node itself are not enough. We have analyzed matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and metastatic cervical lymph node, and evaluated their relationship and clinicophathologic significance. Material and Methods: 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were entered on the study of immunohistochemical stains for MMP-9 and bFGF in the obtained tissue from primary tumor and metastatic cervical lymph node. We analyzed the relationship between MMP-9, bFGF expression of the primary tumor and metastatic node with age, sex, T-stage, N-stage, histologic grade, pathologic stage and disease free survival. Results: Expression of MMP-9 and bFGF in cancer cell and metastatic lymph node was higher than that in normal cell and lymph node. According to histologic differentiation, expression of MMP-9 of the metastatic cervical lymph node was higher than primary tumor. Considering to other clinicopathologic factor, no statistical significance was seen in MMP-9 and bFGF. Conclusion: We found that expression of MMP-9 is higher in the metastatic lymph node than primary tumor in the poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. But we don't find out the statistical significance in relation between bFGF and clinical factors. So we guess that some different mechanism of MMP-9 and bFGF in Head & Neck squamous cell carcinoma exist. Further studies will be necessary to establish their pathogenesis in the Head and Neck cancer.

Background and Objectives: Neck metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, elective neck dissection has been widely accepted for accurate pathologic staging and elective treatment of neck. Occult metastasis rate of laryngeal cancer varies widely depending upon authors. To evaluate the rate and characteristics of occult metastasis and efficacy of the elective neck dissection in clinical N0 laryngeal cancer, we performed this study. Materials and Method: Seventy two patients (supraglottic cancer: 19 cases, glottic cancer: 53 cases) who underwent surgery for laryngeal cancer as an initial treatment from 1993 to 2002 were evaluated. All was underwent elective neck dissection at the time of surgery for the primary treatment. The record of patients and pathologic report were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Occult metastasis rate of supraglottic and glottic cancer were 42.1% (8/19) and 9.4% (5/53), respectively. According to T stage, the occult meastasis of supraglottic and glottic cancer was 20%, 0% in T1, 36.4%, 0% in T2, 100%, 40% in T2, 100%, 20% in T4, respectively. Occult metastasis was mostly confined within level II (69.2%), III (76.9%), IV (23.1%). Conclusion: Based on ours results, elective neck dissection might be needed in treating of clinically N0 all supraglottic cancer and advanced T3, T4 glottic cancer.

Background and Objectives: Salivary gland tumors are relatively rare and constitute 3% to 4% of all head and neck neoplasms. Their relative infrequency, inconsistent classification, and highly variable biologic behavior make some difficulty, but some general features can be drawn regarding the incidence, pathology, and pattern of behavior of the various benign and malignant tumors of salivary glands. The present study aims to provide a clinical characteristics of salivary gland tumors. Materials and Methods: We analyzed retrospectively clinical features of the 138 patients who were treated surgically at Chonbuk National University Hospital from 1992 through 2002. Results: We found 107 benign and 31 malignant tumors. Among the patients, 58 were males and 80 were females. The most common age group was the fifties. The most common site of both benign and malignant was parotid gland in major salivary glands and palatal region in minor salivary glands. The most common presenting symptom was palpable mass in both benign and malignant tumor. Histopathologically, the most common type was pleomorphic adenoma in benign tumor and mucoepidermoid carcinoma in malignant tumor. All cases were treated surgically and the most common postoperative complications was transient facial nerve weakness. Conclusion: 138 cases of salivary gland tumors were presented with respect to their clinical features.

Fibrous dysplasia of the mandible is an unusual manifestation of the disease that is usually benign, occurs in young individuals, and is managed by conservative curettage or debridement. We present a case of persistent fibrous dysplasia complicated by pain and abscess formation that was successfully managed by radical resection and reconstruction with a free fibular flap. Although mandibular fibrous dysplasia is preferentially managed conservatively, treatment of this disease has evolved to a point where total excision and immediate reconstruction may be the treatment of choice and offer the best outcome.

Papillary carcinoma of thyroid is the most common thyroid carcinoma carrying better prognosis than the other thyroid carcinoma. Among the variants in the papillary thyroid carcinoma, the tall cell variant and diffuse sclerosing variants have more aggressive behavior than the classic papillary carcinoma. Recently, a new variant of papillary carcinoma has been reported which was named warthin-like tumor of the thyroid because of its close histologic resemblance to a tumor encountered in the salivary gland, carrying favorable prognosis. Since then, in English literature, a few cases have been reported, but in Korea have not been reported yet. We report a case of warthin-like tumor of the thyroid. A 38 year-old woman who had neck mass, was administered for thyroid surgery due to suspicious thyroid cytology. Right total thyroidectomy and left subtotal thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection was performed. Histologic diagnosis was made as a Warthin-like tumor of the thyroid.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma is rarely reported in head and neck region. In other organ, it usually occur in breast, gastrointenstinal tract and so on. The specific histologic findings of mucinous adenocarcinoma are the large amount of extracellular mucin and tumor cell nests such as floating in mucin pool. It may develop rarely in major or minor salivary gland, but only one case of mucinous adenocarcinoma originating from parotid gland was presented in south korea. We report a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma in the tongue base considered to develop from minor salivary gland with a review of literatures.

An advanced maxillary sinus cancer requires an extensive ablation that results an extensive facial deformity, including a skin defect. Reconstruction has to be considered in a radical maxillectomy, especially with skin defect may be accomplished in one stage with a microsurgical free transfer of a latissimus dorsi flap. A man of right maxillary sinus cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, 47 years old of age, had soft tissue invasion of the cheek region. He underwent a radical maxillectomy with extensive skin excision. The maxillectomy and skin defects were reconstructed with the double skin island latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. The cosmetic result and the functional outcome of the nose were thought to be considerably satisfied.

Primary malignancies of hard palate are rare, espicially adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland in hard palate. The clinical stage of the tumor and its histologic grade at the time of treatment were significant predictors of survival. A 33-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage II, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the hard palate and treated with surgery. We thougt that she would have excellent prognosis. After that, there was no definite evidence of recurrence during 3 months. Since then, the patient herself decided to discontunue follow-up. 9 years after that she came to the hospital due to both submandibular mass without any sign of local recurrence. CT scan and biopsy of the mass revealed multiple cervical metastatic adenocarcinoma without distant metastasis and the histologic findings were similar to that of the primary hard palate adenocarcinoma. So, we present this case with the review of literature.

A choristoma is a tumor like mass of normal tissue in an abnormal location. Lingual osseous choristoma, previously known as osteoma of the tongue base, is rare entity. That is defined as a normal bone mass occuring in the soft tissue of either the skin or the mucosa of oral cavity. The cause of osseous choristoma of the tongue is still unknown, but only several theories have been suggested. Because of the rarity of this entity, our purpose is to add our case to the literature, and to discuss the nature of the disease.

Ectopic cervical thymic tissue is rarely reported in medical literature, but it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children. It occurs in the line of descent of the thymus from the angle of the mandible to the superior mediastinum. A preoperative diagnosis is seldom considered and is often misdiagnosed as a possible tumor or a lymph node. We present a case of a 2-month-old infant with an asymptomatic enlarging right neck mass. Patient underwent complete excision of the mass.

Cervical thymic cysts are not very common. Two-thirds of the lesions are detected in the 1st decade of life, when the thymus is biggest in size and most active. The remaining one-third in the 2nd and 3rd decades. Due to its rarity, cervical thymic cyst is seldom included in the differential diagnosis of a neck mass. Approximately 90 cases have been reported thus far, and most of these cases have occurred asymptomatically in children and adults. We report a case of a 44-year old man with a cervical thymic cyst mimicking branchial cleft cyst.

Lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer occurs to anterior compartment (level VI) and superior mediastinal lymph node (Level VII). In lateral neck, it occurs commonly in middle and lower jugular lymph node (level III, IV). And it can also metastasis to posterior neck lymph node (level V). Superior mediastinal lymph node metastasis of thyroid cancer requires superior mediastinal dissection with massive removal of peritracheal and periesophageal soft tissue. After superior mediastinal dissection, severe complication may occurs such as innominate artery rupture and tracheal necrosis. We describe a case of tracheal necrosis as a complication of superior mediastinal dissection and total thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer patient.

Pilomatricoma is a benign neoplasm of the hair follicle origin which most common occur in the head and neck, particularly in the cheek and preauricular region. This neoplasm is superficially located and stony, hard consistency on palpation and sometimes shows reddish or bluish discoloration on the overlying skin. The diagnosis is confirmed by histopathologic examination. Radiologic evaluation is little diagnostic and fine needle aspiration biopsy often misdiagnose because both tissues from basaloid cell component and shadow cell component should be obtained for correct diagnosis. And Otolaryngologist should consider the possibility of philomatricoma when childhood or early adulthood persion visits with hard, supferficial mass on the parotid or cheek area. The treatment of choice is surgical excision with clear resection margin. In many instances, overlying skin excision is needed. We report 4 cases of philomatricoma arising from preauricular, cheek and posterior neck.