Several techniques have been developed to detect circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but their diagnostic and prognostic value are not yet fully established. A computerized retrieval of literatures was conducted without time restrictions using the electronic database in December 2014. Diagnostic accuracy variables were pooled and analyzed by the Meta-DiSc software. Engauge Digitizer and Stata software were used for pooled survival analysis. Twenty-two retrieved studies were eligible for systematic review, of which 9 conformed for the diagnostic test meta-analysis and 5 for the prognostic analysis. Subgroup analysis showed 24.6% pooled sensitivity and 100% pooled specificity of detections by using positive selection strategy, which moreover presented low heterogeneity. The presence of CTC was significantly associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS, HR 4.62, 95% CI 2.51-8.52). In conclusion, current evidence identifies the CTC detection assay as an extremely specific, but low sensitive test in HNSCC. Also, the presence of CTC indicates a worse DFS.