A Case of Tonsillar Metastasis from Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Metastasis of a tumor to the tonsil is a rare event. We report herein on a case of tonsillar metastasis from small cell lung cancer. A 70-year-old woman had been in our hospital for treatment of her lung cancer. She complained of pharyngalgia, and was referred to our division for examination. The right palatine tonsil was swelling, rubescent and covered with pus plugs. She was treated with antibiotics on the basis of having acute tonsillitis. The swollen right palatine tonsil reduced in size for a while, but enlarged again, and was partially ulcerated. She was afraid to undergo any biopsy, so a right tonsillectomy was done under general anesthesia. The histopathological examination resulted in the diagnosis of a metastatic tonsillar tumor from lung cancer (small cell carcinoma). Intravenous chemotherapy was performed, but ineffective. She died due to progression of the primary lesion and other metastasizing lesions (right adrenal gland, and abdominal lymph nodes) 5 months after the diagnosis of tonsillar metastasis. References 1) Sheng LM, Zhang LZ, Xu HM, et al. : Ascending colon adeno-carcinoma with tonsillar metastasis: a case report and review of the literature. World J Gastroenterol 14: 7138-7140, 2008. 2) Brownson RJ, Jaques WE, LaMonte SE, et al. : Hyperneph-roma metastatic to the palatine tonsils. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryn-gol 88: 235-240, 1979. 3) 埴淵昌毅，合田正和，真鍋和義，他：口蓋扁桃転移を来し た非小細胞肺癌の 2 例．肺癌 43: 319-324, 2003. 4) 金子善一，栃木照子，中島利子：両側口蓋扁桃の原発悪性 腫瘍を思わせた胃癌の 1 剖検例．耳鼻咽喉 36: 415-418, 1964. 5) Monforte R, Ferrer A, Montserrat JM, et al. : Bronchial adeno-carcinoma presenting as a lingual tonsillar metastasis. Chest 92: 1122-1123, 1987. 6) Watanabe A, Katayama A and Okayasu K : Palatine tonsillar metastasis from a small cell carcinoma of the lung. Pract Otol (