Distant metastases from head and neck cancer.

Distant metastases were detected in 52 (30.7%) of 169 patients with advanced head and neck cancer observed from 1968 until 1982. Both clinical and autopsy findings are included in the assessment. The occurrence of distant metastases was related to primary disease site, stage of disease at presentation, and development of infectious complications during the course of the disease. The duration of survival was unrelated to the development of metastases. The incidence of distant spread was low for patients with floor-of-mouth lesions (11.8%) and high for patients with advanced disease arising in some regions of the larynx (58.6%). Patients who experienced wound infection, pneumonia, or bacteremia had infrequent development of metastatic disease.