Metastatic cystic squamous cell carcinoma in the neck mistaken as primary branchial cleft carcinoma: a report of 4 cases / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To raise the vigilance not to believe easily the diagnosis of a primary branchial cleft carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four cases of cystic metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the neck misdiagnosed as branchiogenic carcinoma from 1993 to 2002 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The primary sites of these 4 cases were later discovered, 2 in the aryepiglottic fold, 1 in faucial tonsil and 1 in the skin of the head, respectively. The discovery of the primary sites ranged from the day of initial surgery to 41 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>None of the cases reviewed in this study was a branchiogenic carcinoma. Therefore, the diagnosis of a primary branchial cleft carcinoma requires the fulfillment of strict criteria both clinically and pathologically.</p>