SQUAMOUS-CELL GRANULOMAS OF THE NECK - HISTOLOGIC REGRESSION OF METASTATIC SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA FOLLOWING CHEMOTHERAPY AND OR RADIOTHERAPY/

Background For patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and n eck (HNSCC), persistence of cervical adenopathy following organ-preser vation therapy is a strong predictor of locoregional failure. Squamous cell granulomas of the neck may represent a regressed state of metast atic HNSCC; however, relevant clinicopathologic features of this lesio n including its morphologic characteristics, association with therapy, and relationship to disease progression are not well defined. Methods . We reviewed 866 consecutive neck dissections performed at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1984 to 1996. A total of eight cases showing a f oreign-body giant-cell reaction to keratin in the absence of viable tu mor formed the basis of this study. Results. All eight cases were from patients with stage III or IV HNSCC with concurrent neck masses. Pati ents were initially treated by chemotherapy (n = 1), radiotherapy (n = 1), or chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (n = 6); and all patients subse quently underwent neck dissection for persistence of their neck masses . Histologically, the neck lesions were characterized by a foreign-bod y giant-cell reaction to keratin and extensive scarring. None (0%) of the patients developed recurrent regional disease in the treated neck. Two (25%) of the patients had tumor recurrence at the primary site. T wo (25%) of the patients developed widely metastatic disease. Conclusi ons. These observations suggest that squamous cell granulomas represen t histologic regression of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in patie nts with HNSCC treated by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Although p ersistent cervical adenopathy is an established risk factor for locore gional failure in this group of patients, squamous cell granulomas of the neck paradoxically may reflect enhanced regional tumor sensitivity to cytotoxic agents. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.