Prognostic factors in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive biologic behavior. We conducted a retrospective study of 71 patients-58 men and 13 women, aged 28 to 88 years (mean: 71)-who had been treated at our university-affiliated tertiary care medical center for metastatic cutaneous SCC over a 15-year period. In addition to demographic data, we compiled and analyzed information on tumor characteristics, the site and extent of metastasis, treatment, follow-up, and outcome. Among the tumor factors, poorly differentiated carcinoma was an independent predictor of poorer disease-free survival, and older age was found to be an independent predictor of poorer overall survival. We found no significant difference in disease-free or disease-specific survival among patients with parotid involvement, neck involvement, or both. In our series, the site of nodal involvement appeared to have no prognostic significance in patients with metastatic cutaneous SCC of the head and neck.