This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mendes, R L Articles by Harrington, K J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mendes, R L Articles by Harrington, K J

Residual or recurrent head and neck cancer presenting with nerve root compression affecting the upper limbs

¹ Head and Neck Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, 203 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ and ² Institute of Cancer Research, Fulham Road, London, UK

Correspondence: Dr K J Harrington

Nerve root and spinal cord compression are oncological emergencies that require early detection and prompt management. These phenomena are most frequently diagnosed in patients with haematogenous metastases from lung, breast and prostate cancers and are rarely seen in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN). SCCHN tends to spread by direct extension and lymphatic metastasis, with haematogenous dissemination occurring late in the natural history of the disease. In this paper, we report three patients with residual or relapsed SCCHN who presented with symptoms and signs of nerve root compression affecting the upper limbs caused by locoregional lymphatic spread of disease.