Solitary Splenic Metastasis from Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Report / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Solitary splenic metastases from head and neck cancer are rare. We report a 35-year-old male with nasal cavity cancer with metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes. The patient underwent three cycles of induction chemotherapy, followed by left medial maxillectomy with modified radical neck dissection and concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin. After 7 months of a disease-free interval, positron-emission tomography showed a high uptake in the spleen, and a biopsy confirmed metastatic carcinoma. After four cycles of systemic chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin, laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. This case highlights that solitary splenic metastasis, although rare, may occur with a locoregionally controlled head and neck cancer and could be treated with local and systemic treatment.