Small bowel metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are relatively rare and in some cases asymptomatic. In the case herein reported, small bowel metastasis from a laryngeal carcinoma caused a life-threatening complication. The surgical approach was effective in saving the patient's life. Death occurred for neck tumor progression without abdominal signs of secondary lesions. A review of the previously reported cases is provided.
de CastroC.A., DockertyM.B., MayoC.W.: Metastatic tumors of the small intestine.Surg. Gynecol. Obstet., 105: 159–165, 1957.
2.
MerinoO.R., LindbergR.D., FletcherG.H.: An analysis of distant metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper respiratory and digestive tract.Cancer, 40: 145–151, 1977.
3.
O'BrienP., CarlsonR., SteubnerE.A., StaleyC.T.: Distant metastases in epidermoid cell carcinoma of the head and neck.Cancer, 27: 304–307, 1971.
4.
PapacR.J.: Distant metastases from head and neck cancer.Cancer, 53: 342–345, 1984.
5.
ProbertJ.C., ThompsonR.W., BagshawM.A.: Patterns of spread of distant metastases in head and neck cancer.Cancer, 33: 127–133, 1974.
6.
WinchesterD.P., MerrillJ.R., VictorT.A., ScanionE.F.: Small bowel perforation secondary to metastatic carcinoma of the lung.Cancer, 40: 410–415, 1977.
