OBJECTIVETo evaluate the symptoms and surgical management results of metastatic disease in the retropharyngeal space.

METHODSSix patients with malignant tumors were collected, in which enlarged lymph nodes presented both in neck and retropharyngeal space. They consisted of two supraglottic carcinoma (T3N2MO), one thyroid carcinoma (TXN2MO), one nasal melanoma (TXN2MO), one oropharyngeal carcinoma (T2N2M0) and one hypopharyngeal carcinoma (T3N2MO). The enlarged nodes in the retropharyngeal space were measured with CT and (or) MRI, which ranged from 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter. Based on the control of the primary and neck disease, the mass in the retropharyngeal space was dissected and sent for pathologic exam separately.

RESULTSMetastasis in the retropharyngeal space was pathologically proved in all of them, along with the involved internal jugular lymph nodes of 3/15, 3/17, 4/19, 5/19, 6/20, and 6/23, respectively. No serious complications occurred, such as fistula and central nerve damage. The patient with hypopharyngeal carcinoma died of lung metastasis 2 years after operation. The one suffering nasal malignant melanoma was out of follow-up in the 14th months. The patient with oropharyngeal carcinoma locally relapsed in the 18th months and died at the 24th months postoperatively. The rest was alive with tumor free within the follow-up period from 2 to 4 years.

CONCLUSIONSCT or Mifi are the mainstay of diagnosis of the metastatic disease in the retropharyngeal space and can he surgically controlled with safety.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed