Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil presenting as otorrhea: a case report

Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

Ear Nose Throat J

Abstract

We describe the case of a 52-year-old man with a history of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tonsil who presented with right subacute otalgia and otorrhea. Dedicated computed tomography of the temporal bones showed opacification within the mastoid process with destruction of bony mastoid septations consistent with coalescent mastoiditis. Preoperative imaging showed no destruction or expansion of the bony eustachian tube that would indicate that a direct spread had occurred. An urgent cortical mastoidectomy was performed. Intraoperatively, a friable white mass surrounded with purulence and granulation tissue was biopsied and returned as SCC. The discrete metastasis was removed without complication. Postoperatively, the patient was prescribed palliative chemotherapy. This case shows that a metastatic SCC can be masked by an overlying mastoiditis, and thus it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with a history of oropharyngeal cancer.

Volume Number

94

Issue Number

1

Pages

E7-9

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/01/22

Status

Northwell Researcher

Facility

Northwell Health

Primary Department

Otolaryngology

Additional Departments

Pediatrics

PMID

25606847

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

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