A rare case of palatin tonsillar metastasis from small cell lung cancer

Introduction

Tonsillar metastases are absolutely rare: in a series of 1,547 tonsillar tumors only 12 (0.8%) were metastases (1). Similar results were reported in another study published by Hyams and colleagues (2). Overall few cases of lung cancers with tonsillar metastasis were described and the majorities were small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (3-8).

Case presentation

A 76 years old man was admitted at our emergency department because of dyspnea, associated to strep throat and difficulty swallowing, on April 2011. He was a former smoker of 30–40 cigarettes a day. His medical history included pulmonary emphysema, rickettsiosis, gouty arthritis, bilateral hypoacusis and cataract.

A total body computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a solid mass of 3.5 cm in the left upper lobe, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion, without lesions in the bone, brain, liver and adrenal glands.

Pathologic diagnosis of SCLC was obtained from a bronchoscopy with biopsy. Contextually, a large formation next to the lateral right portion of the tongue was even detected. A head and neck MRI disclosed a large mass arising from the right tonsil, displacing the soft palate (Figure 1). An incisional biopsy of tonsillar lesion showed a metastasis from SCLC. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections revealed small carcinoma cells with scant cytoplasm and frequent mitotic figures (Figure 2). Immunohistochemical analysis resulted positive for neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56) and thyroid transcription factor-1 in tumor cells (Figures 3,4).

Figure 1 T2 weighted MRI scan of the oropharynx showing the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) right palatin tonsil metastasis that appears strongly hyperintense if compared with striated muscles and easily delimitable.

Figure 2 Hematoxylin and eosin picture (100×) of the tissue section, showing a minute fragment of tissue within the infiltration of small cell carcinoma with high mitotic activity.

Figure 3 Image of the tissue section (100×) stained with anti-CD56 monoclonal antibody, showing high and uniform positivity of virtually all cells of the tumor.

Figure 4 Image of the tissue section (100×) stained with monoclonal anti-TTF1, showing focal nuclear positivity of the tumor.

The patient received a chemotherapy regimen including carboplatin (AUC 6) day 1 and etoposide (100 mg/mq) day 1–3, q21. A stable disease lasting 6 months was detected by a whole body CT scan. However, a further CT scan, revealed brain metastases 3 months after the end of chemotherapy. The patients received a whole-brain radiotherapy followed by a second line chemotherapy with topotecan (1.5 mg/mq day 1–5 q21).

Finally, patient died for progressive disease 3 months later, with an overall survival of 14 months.

Discussion

SCLC is known to be the most frequent histological type of tonsillar metastases, however the way of tumor cells spreading to tonsil remains controversial. Both hematogenous and retrograde lymphatic spreading of cancer cells can be considered (7). Prognosis of patients with tonsillar metastasis remains poor. The paucity of casuistic prevented to have effective treatments. Nonetheless, recently Gottschling and colleagues reported a long-term response to gefitinib in a KRAS-mutation positive, metastatic tonsil carcinoma with cancer stem-like cell features (8).

We reported a case of synchronous tonsillar metastases in a SCLC patient with a similar survival compared to patients previously evaluated. For the purpose of a complete staging in cancer patients, especially in those with SCLC, we would highlight the importance of oral cavity evaluation as a part of a clinical exam.

Acknowledgements

None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Informed Consent: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this manuscript and any accompanying images.

References

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