Journal of Current Oncology

CASE REPORT
Year
: 2021  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 140--143

Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue with isolated inguinal node metastasis: A case report and literature review


Keerthiga K1, Chitta Ranjan Kundu1, Kanhu Charan Patro1, Partha Sarathi Bhattacharyya1, Venkata Krishna Reddy Pilaka1, Sanjukta Padhi2, M Mrityunjaya Rao1, P Srinivasuslu Reddy1, A Mohanapriya1, V S Premchand Kumar Avidi1, Venkata Naga Priyasha Damodara1,  
1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Center, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Chitta Ranjan Kundu
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
India

Abstract

Most of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue present with distant metastasis to lung, bone, and liver. However, some rare presentation of tongue cancer metastasizing to cutaneous, cardiac, and axillary lymph nodes has been reported. We present a case of 55-year-old man diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of right lateral border of tongue, underwent right hemiglossectomy and right modified neck dissection, levels 1–5 with pathological staging pT2N0M0 (AJCC 8th edition) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions. After 6-month post-treatment, the patient presented with right inguinal swelling which was associated with pain. Ultrasonography of the groin region confirmed lymphadenopathy and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from lymph node came out as metastatic deposits of squamous cell carcinoma. Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) showed isolated right inguinal lymph node metastasis. He underwent right inguinal block dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy. Hence, isolated inguinal node metastasis is extremely rare but possible. Patient should be examined thoroughly during follow-up.



How to cite this article:
Keerthiga K, Kundu CR, Patro KC, Bhattacharyya PS, Pilaka VK, Padhi S, Rao M M, Reddy P S, Mohanapriya A, Avidi VP, Damodara VN. Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue with isolated inguinal node metastasis: A case report and literature review.J Curr Oncol 2021;4:140-143


How to cite this URL:
Keerthiga K, Kundu CR, Patro KC, Bhattacharyya PS, Pilaka VK, Padhi S, Rao M M, Reddy P S, Mohanapriya A, Avidi VP, Damodara VN. Squamous cell carcinoma of tongue with isolated inguinal node metastasis: A case report and literature review. J Curr Oncol [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];4:140-143
Available from: http://www.https://journalofcurrentoncology.org//text.asp?2021/4/2/140/338055


Full Text



 Introduction



Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cancer is the second most common cancer in India. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, lip and oral cavity cancer burden is high in India approximately 10.2 per 100,000.[1] Approximately 70% of cancer (carcinoma lung and oral cavity) in India are due to modifiable causes such as tobacco consumption and air pollution. HNSCC shows an index of 25%–45% lymphatic metastasis which includes all sites and stages of tumor.[2] The lymph nodal metastasis occurs with a variable frequency depending on the site of the lesion, T-stage, and histopathological characteristics of the primary lesion, that is, type, degree of differentiation, perineural, and lymphovascular invasion.[3] Tumor metastases take place through hematogenous spread to distant organs (lung, skin, bone, and liver) and lymphatic spread to distant lymph nodes (mediastinal, abdominal, and axillary nodes). In general, with respect to head and neck cancer, 66% of distant metastases are to the lungs, 22% to the bones, and 9.5% to the liver. Distant metastasis can occur at initial diagnosis or, more often, later as a natural course of the disease. The incidence of nonsquamous histology is less than 10% that includes Adenoid cystic carcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, and neuroendocrine carcinomas which are considered as aggressive metastatic tumors.[3] The 5-year locoregional recurrence is approximately 50%, whereas distant metastases are approximately 15% in locally advanced HNSCC. With distant metastasis, the overall survival reduces significantly even with early diagnosis of metastasis. The prevalence of distant metastasis increases significantly (approximately 32%) with the presence of extranodal extension. A multivariate analysis of the tumor characteristics has shown that only depth of tumor as an absolute predictive value for cervical and distant metastasis in lingual neoplasms.[3] However, an isolated nonregional node metastasis has not been reported before.

 Case Report



A 55-year-old man presented with ulceroproliferative lesion over right lateral border of tongue, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of tongue in 2020 and underwent right hemiglossectomy with right modified neck dissection. Postop histopathology report had shown tumor size to be 3 cm × 1.5 cm × 0.5 cm, grade I. All margins were ≥1 cm with lymphovascular (+) and perineural invasion (+). The depth of invasion was 0.5 cm from basal layer and the risk score was 1, that is, intermediate risk (Brandwein Gensler Risk score). No lymph nodes were positive out of 36 dissected. He received adjuvant radiotherapy with total tumor dose of 6000cGy/30#/5 weeks @ 2Gy/#. He was on regular follow-up and remained disease free for 6 months. On his sixth-month follow-up, he presented with a swelling over right inguinal region for a period of 20 days [Figure 1] [Figure 2] [Figure 3]. The onset was sudden associated with mild pain, dragging type. On examination, a single swelling, measuring approximately 1.5 cm × 1 cm over right inguinal region was found which was firm, mobile, and nontender [Figure 4]. The patient was examined thoroughly to rule out any local cause of his inguinal swelling. The physical examination did not reveal any assignable cause to the swelling. The patient was reviewed after a week with a course of antibiotics. On review, the swelling was found to be persistent with no changes in the characteristics. A radiologist’s opinion was sought, and he was subjected to ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from the swelling. The cytology came to be positive for metastatic deposits of squamous cell carcinoma. Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) confirmed it to be a localized metastasis confined to right inguinal region only [Figure 5]. Patient underwent right inguinal block dissection and the histopathology report shows that 5 out of 11 lymph nodes were positive for metastatic deposits of squamous cell carcinoma with extranodal extension. Immunohistochemistry study showed CK7 and p63 positive favoring squamous cell carcinoma. Patient received adjuvant radiotherapy 50Gy/25#/5weeks to the right groin region. Patient was kept under follow-up.{Figure 1}{Figure 2}{Figure 3}{Figure 4}{Figure 5}

 Discussion



Worldwide, oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer. India contributes one-third to the global oral cancer burden. Among oral cavity cancers, carcinoma of tongue is the most common cancer.[4] Tongue has extensive lymphatic drainage that leads to local, regional, and distant metastasis. The regional and distant metastasis in head and neck cancer depends on the high-risk features such as stage III and IV, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, more than 2 lymph Node positive, extranodal extension, and margin positivity.[5] Significant occult metastasis had been observed in the early stage of lingual carcinoma also.[4] This leads to the need for neck dissection in clinically node-negative patients. Incidence of skip metastasis in lingual carcinoma to level III and IV without involving level I and II nodes is also significantly high.[6] The frequency of distant metastases varies extensively, ranging between 4% and 26% in clinical studies and between 37% and 57% in autopsy studies.[7] In patients, in whom loco-regional control has not been achieved, distant metastasis occurs as the disease progresses. However, in patients with locoregional control, distant metastasis is rare. It has been thought that distant metastases in these patients develop because of a subclinical distant metastatic spreading that has already occurred, when treatment of locoregional tumor is carried out. These metastatic foci develop during the course of follow-up and become clinically apparent. Leon et al.[8] have reported approximately 5% distant metastasis in head and neck cancer patients with locoregional control. A rare case of isolated axillary node in carcinoma buccal mucosa presented after 4 years of treatment to the primary (AIIMS, New Delhi).[9] Das Majumdar et al.[10] in their case report described distant metastasis to cutaneous, cardiac region in a patient with anterior tongue carcinoma after 2 years of complete treatment with surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation to the primary.

However, the differential diagnosis can also be unknown primary with isolated inguinal nodal metastasis. The most common sites for inguinal node metastasis are skin of lower extremities, vulva, anus, glans, foreskin of penis, rectum, anus, cervix, and ovary. Sinha et al.[11] reported a case with carcinoma of unknown primary with inguinal metastasis, which was developed squamous cell carcinoma of penis after 3 years of inguinal metastasis. Zaren et al.[12] reviewed 2232 patients with inguinal node metastasis and concluded the most common primary site to be skin of lower extremities, cervix, vulva, skin of trunk, rectum, and anus. In only 1% of patients, the primary site remained undiagnosed. It is difficult to differentiate by pathology whether it is metastasis or carcinoma of unknown primary as it will be squamous cell carcinoma with tongue cancer or skin/penile cancer. Carcinoma of unknown primary with single metastatic site and favorable histology such as squamous are managed locoregionally with surgery and/or radiation.[13] Survival in carcinoma of unknown primary and head and neck cancer with isolated inguinal nodes had an over 50% survival as compared to metastasis to other lymph nodes.[14]

In our case, we have recorded an isolated inguinal node metastasis within 6 months of completion of surgery and radiation. After an extensive literature search, we conclude that this is the first case being reported with isolated distant metastasis to inguinal node without any loco-regional recurrence.

 Conclusion



Distant metastasis to inguinal node in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue after complete treatment is rare but technically feasible, and it did happen, this case being one example. Hence, thorough clinical examination of the patient during follow-up is essential.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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