- Abstract -

Aim: Our study evaluated some clinical and histopathologic factors to predict distant metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Materials and Methods: A total of 206 patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. The relationships of tumor stage, primary site, clinical growth pattern, tumor differentiation, regional node status, and extranodal spread tumor with metastastatic disease were evaluated.

Results: 20% of the patients developed distant metastasis ss the initial treatment failure. The incidence was significantly higher in patients with neck metastasis than in those without neck metastasis (P < 0,001). There was no statistical difference in the incidence based on location, stage of the disease, and clinical growth pattern. On multivariate analysis, only histopathologic nodal status and extranodal spred proved to be independent cofactors of distant metstases.

Conclusion: The presence of pathologically positive nodes is the most critical factor to influence the eventual development of distant metastasis.

Key words: distant metastasis, squamous cell carcinoma, neck dissection