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

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 can...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBritish journal of radiology Vol. 77; no. 920; p. 688
Main Authors Mendes, R L, Nutting, C M, Harrington, K J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.08.2004
Subjects
Aged
Fatal Outcome
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Paralysis - etiology
Radiculopathy - diagnosis
Radiculopathy - etiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0007-1285
DOI:10.1259/bjr/16836733