Oligometastases in head and neck carcinoma and their impact on management

Norhafiza Mat Lazim; Michael Elliott; James Wykes; Jonathan Clark

doi:10.1111/ans.16622

Oligometastases in head and neck carcinoma and their impact on management

ANZ J Surg. 2021 Dec;91(12):2617-2623. doi: 10.1111/ans.16622. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Authors

Norhafiza Mat Lazim¹, Michael Elliott^{2

3}, James Wykes², Jonathan Clark²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
² Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ School of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 33634950
DOI: 10.1111/ans.16622

Abstract

Historically, patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with distant metastases were regarded as palliative. Oligometastasis (OM) refers to patients with a limited number of distant metastatic deposits. Treatment of patients with OMs has been reported in patients with lung, colon, breast, prostate and brain malignancies. Selected patients with oligometastatic HNSCC have a higher probability of durable disease control and cure and these patients should be treated aggressively. Treatment options for patients with HNSCC OMs include single or combinations of the three arms of cancer treatment, that is surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy/immunotherapy. To date, there are limited studies reporting the management of OM with head and neck malignancy. This review will give insights into the management of OMs in HNSCC.

Keywords: distant metastases; head and neck carcinoma; oligometastases; oral cavity carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Brain Neoplasms*
Carcinoma*
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
Humans
Male
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / therapy