Tonsillar carcinoma spreading metastases to central nervous system – Case report and literature review

Abstract

We present a case report of a 51-year-old left-handed gentleman with a background of HPV 16-positive tonsil squamous cell carcinoma presenting with tonic-clonic seizure and a radiological diagnosis of secondary metastatic deposits. These were initially treated with Stereotactic RadioSurgery (SRS), and subsequently with surgery. Surgical resection was performed under general anaesthesia with right-sided temporal and parietal approaches. Both the parietal and temporal deposits were removed, while the intraventricular mass was intentionally left to avoid post-op deficits. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were administered post-op. The patient experienced a satisfactory recovery post-op and was re-operated for recurrence 4 months later. He maintained a good quality of life and an excellent performance status throughout, but unfortunately passed away in November 2018 due to septic complications. This case history stresses the difficulty in managing SCC with brain metastatic deposits. There are no current guidelines about the management of patients presenting with such a rare condition. More data is thus desirable in order to better define treatment guidelines and protocols when SCC brain metastases are present

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