# Multifocal and Recurrent Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma

**Authors:** Rehman Basharat, Ghassan Samara

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.67871 · 2024-08-26

## TL;DR

This paper reports a complex case of recurring tonsillar cancer in a 54-year-old man, highlighting the challenges of treatment and the need for tailored strategies.

## Contribution

The paper presents a detailed clinical case emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary care and advanced surgical techniques in managing multifocal and recurrent tonsillar SCC.

## Key findings

- The patient developed SCC in the right tonsil two years after initial treatment.
- The disease progressed to the base of the tongue and larynx, requiring extensive surgery.
- Robotic-assisted surgery and advanced imaging were crucial in managing the complex case.

## Abstract

The following study describes a complex clinical course of recurrent and multifocal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tonsil, involving both initial and subsequent malignancies over several years. The patient, a 54-year-old male with a history of tobacco use, first presented with SCC of the left tonsil, treated with tonsillectomy and neck dissection. Despite clear margins post-surgery, the patient developed SCC in the right tonsil two years later, requiring further surgical intervention and a comprehensive treatment approach. The disease then progressed to the base of the tongue and right larynx, necessitating a total laryngectomy and subtotal glossectomy. The report emphasizes the critical role of advanced imaging and surgical techniques, including robotic-assisted surgery, in managing such complex cases. Additionally, the case highlights the challenges of treating advanced oropharyngeal SCC, the importance of multidisciplinary management, and the need for consistent follow-up to monitor treatment efficacy and manage complications. The case underscores the complexity of SCC in the head and neck region and the necessity for tailored therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** squamous cell carcinoma (MONDO:0005096)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** malignancies (MESH:D009369), SCC (MESH:D002294), oropharyngeal SCC (MESH:D000077195)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Nicotiana tabacum (American tobacco, species) [taxon 4097]

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11426942/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11426942