Primary and secondary pulmonary tumors associated with head and neck carcinoma
Morone, G.; Meriggi, F.; Forni, E.
Annali Italiani di Chirurgia 68(4): 511-516
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-469X PMID: 9494182 Document Number: 477466
The authors analyze personal and literature results in surgery of primary and secondary lung cancer associated with head and neck malignancies. Eighteen patients with primary lung cancer associated with head and neck cancer were compared with six patients affected by pulmonary metastases from head and neck cancer. In the first group the 3-year postoperative survival rate was 60.5%, in the second group 33%. Differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic lung tumours may be easy when multiple pulmonary nodes are present. When only one pulmonary node is present, diagnosis is more difficult. Thoracotomy is necessary to perform the correct diagnosis and the best postoperative medical treatment.