• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.239-242
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• 1999

Spindle cell carcinomas of the head and neck are unusual neoplasms that are histologically biphasic, having both squamous cell carcinoma and apparently malignant spindle cell or sarcomatous element. Controversy about the histogenesis of these tumors has resulted in various terminology ; sarcomatoid carcinoma, pseudosarcoma, carcinosarcoma, and spindle cell carcinoma. The clinical course and natural history of these tumors are also variable. We report a case of 64-year-old male who complained of a neck mass. The patient was treated with extended radical neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy, but the primary site of spindle cell carcinoma could not be found. We reviewed the clinical course, treatment, prognosis, and histogenesis of spindle cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 2017

We present a metastatic carcinoma from the breast to the neck soft tissue around common carotid artery, with a rare finding of voice change. A 60 year-old female patient presented with voice change for 7 months. Neck ultrasound revealed a soft tissue mass between internal jugular vein and common carotid artery. Result of fine needle aspiration biopsy was a metastatic carcinoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance image revealed $2.5{\times}3.0cm$ sized irregular marginated soft tissue mass in right lower neck encasing common carotid artery and internal jugular vein. Surgical resection was performed and pathologic result with immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma originated from breast.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.15-17
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• 2024

Clear cell carcinoma is a rare variant of salivary gland carcinoma, and its occurrence in the tongue base is even rarer. We present a case of a 55-year-old female patient with clear cell carcinoma of the tongue base. The patient initially presented with a 3-month history of palpable tongue mass, leading to her visit to the otolaryngology outpatient clinic. The patient underwent a complete resection of the tumor under general anesthesia. Postoperative follow-up imaging studies showed no evidence of recurrence. This case report highlights the diagnostic and management challenges associated with clear cell carcinoma of tongue base and demonstrates that a high index of suspicion is required to diagnose clear cell caricnoma, given its rarity and overlapping features with other clear cell neoplasms.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2005

Insular carcinoma(poorly differentiated thyroid cancer) is defined as a aggressive, follicular-derived thyroid carcinoma with behavior intermediate between follicular/papillary and anaplastic carcinomas. It was described by Carcangiu in 1984, but its prognosis, classification and the origin is not yet clear. And preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology of insular carcinoma has not been satisfactory. We experienced a case of advanced thyroid insular carcinoma with invasion of the sternum. So we intend to present the case with a review of the related literatures.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemical expression of CK7, CK19, CK20, SMA and Ki-67 in Adenoid cystic carcinoma(ACC) of the Head and Neck. Material and Methods : Sixteen patients who were treated in Chungbuk National University Hospital from 1992 to 2004, were included in this study. Ten ACCs, 3 MECs, 1 Salivary duct carcinoma, 1 Adenocarcinoma(NOS), and 1 cacinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma were analyzed immunohistochemically for CK7, CK19, CK20, SMA, and Ki-67. Results : CK7 was expressed in 100% of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and 75% of the other tumors. CK19 was expressed in 75% of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and 100% of the other tumors. CK20 was not expressed in all tumors. SMA was expressed in 88.9% of the adenoid cystic carcinoma and not expressed in the other tumors. Ki-67 was expressed in low level in the adenoid cystic carcinoma. Conclusion : The Ki-67 index could explain the natural course of tumor. Immunohistochemistry of CK7, CK19, CK20, SMA and Ki-67 expression in Adenoid cystic carcinoma may provide useful information to diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-6
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• 1994

Neck dissection has become an integral part of the staging and management of head and neck tumors. This paper reports a series of head and neck patients who had pathological findings in their neck dissection specimens, which were unrelated to their primary tumors. In 7 cases, there was unexpected pathology in the cervical lymph nodes which was not related to the primary tumor. Four cases were squamous cell carcinomas and 3 were thyroid carcinomas. In 3 cases of squamous cell carcinomas, there were no evidence of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in neck dissection specimen; however, the lymph nodes were found to be involved by metastatic papillary carcinoma in one larynx cancer, metastatic adenocarcinoma in the other larynx cancer, tuberculosis in one nasopharynx cancer. In three of neck dissection specimen of carcinoma(two thyroid carcinomas, one laryngeal carcinoma), dual nodal pathology was found: Each of these specimen contained carcinoma with tuberculosis of the lymph nodes in three cases. In one thyroid carcinoma, there was no evidence of metastasis; however, the lymph nodes were found to be involved by tuberculosis. Preoperative assessment did not reveal any findings to alert us to the possibility of a synchronous pathological process in the cervical nodes of this group of 7 patients. In particular, there was no evidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in the 5 patients with active lymph node disease.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2022

Parathyroid carcinoma is very rare malignant neoplasm, accounting for less than 0.005% of all cancers. Most parathyroid carcinoma is a functioning tumor that causes hyperparathyroidism, leading to hypercalcemia. We report a parathyroid carcinoma case that was suspicious for spontaneous infarction of cancer, leading to resolution of hypercalcemia. A 29-year-old male visited our hospital presenting with right neck swelling and pain. He has been experiencing frequent urolithiasis for four years but laboratory tests showed normal serum calcium level. Right vocal cord paresis was identified with laryngoscopy. Ultrasonography revealed a 3.7 × 3.5 cm mass in the right thyroid containing a focal cystic portion. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of a low-density right thyroid mass. Right thyroid lobectomy was performed and pathological evaluation revealed parathyroid carcinoma with central necrosis. We report this very rare case with a literature review.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2012

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma(BSCC) is a high-grade variant of squamous cell carcinoma, with a prediction for multifocal involvement of the base of tongue, pyriform sinus, supraglottic larynx, hypopharynx and palatine tonsil. It primary affects men in the seventh decade of life with frequent cervical lymph-node metastasis at presentation. Grossly, these tumors are usually firm to hard, with associated central necrosis, occuring as exophytic to nodular masses. Histologically, the this infiltrating tumor offers a variety of growth patterns, including solid, lobular, cribriform, cords, trabeculae, nests and glands or cyst. We present a 55-year-old female who was treated with surgical excision and radiotherapy. She was firstly presented as a recurrent inflammatory neck mass and finally diagnosed with basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in the palatine tonsil.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.221-224
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• 2010

Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently invades the lymph node, trachea, esophagus and perithyroid tissue. However, direct extension to posterior pharyngeal area is known to be rare. A 64-year-old male was referred to our clinic presenting as posterior pharyngeal mass during gastrofiberscopy. The neck CT scan showed soft tissue mass in retropharynx and lymph node in right level III with calcifications. We performed the total thyroidectomy with selective(level II, III, IV) and anterior compartment neck dissection. In operative findings, the right thyroid mass were connected to the retropharynx through the posterior portion of inferior constrictor muscle. Histopathologic findings revealed the papillary thyroid carcinoma extended to retropharynx. We report a unique case with a literature review.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.240-242
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• 2010

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a very rare event, representing much less than 1% of all malignant tumors of the thyroid gland. The cancer is characterized by rapidly progressive clinical course in spite of its differentiated morphologic features. In most cases, a squamous epithelium is believed to be a result of metaplasia of a follicular epithelium, although in rare exceptions, it can originate from a remnant of the thyroglossal duct or ultimobranchial body. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland can occur in a pure form or mixed with adenocarcinoma. Because their clinical behavior is more aggressive than that of other malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland, the tumor should be treated more vigorously at its initial stage. Recently, authors experienced one case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. We report our case with a brief review of literature.