Introduction

The incidence of head and neck cancer is relatively low in developed countries and highest in South East Asia. There are marked regional variations in the incidence of head and neck cancers, with rates ranging from 8 per 100,000 in the Thames and Oxford regions to 13–15 per 100,000 in Wales and in the North Western region [1–4]. It is rare before the age of 45 [1–3]. Risk factors for head and neck cancer include tobacco, alcohol, betel quid, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) [1–3]. Head and neck cancers affecting the oropharynx, tonsil, and base of the tongue are on the increase in the young. This is thought to be due to changes in sexual behaviour leading to increased HPV transmission [1].

There is no consensus over which cancers to categorise as head and neck cancer. This study includes the ICD 10 codes; C00-C010 and C12-C14. These codes account for the following sites: oral cavity, oropharynx, laryngopharynx, hypopharynx and salivary glands in addition to other and ill-defined sites involving the lip, oral cavity and pharynx. Cancers involving the rest of the head and neck, including nasopharynx, cranial sinuses, thyroid, brain and eyes were out of the scope of this study.

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) constitute 95% of cancers in this area [1]. The most common sites for SCC are the tongue (oral or base) followed by the floor of the mouth, retromolar area (trigone), tonsils and lower lip [1]. SCC cancer is most likely known to metastasize and recur and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality [1].

Cancers of the salivary glands demonstrate a different cytological profile. Types include carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and acinic cell carcinoma. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA, also known as a benign mixed tumour) is the commonest benign tumour of the salivary glands [1]. They are characterized by indolent growth and are painless. Carcinomas ex pleomorphic adenoma (carcinosarcoma and carcinoma ex-mixed tumour) however, are a rare and aggressive tumour with a reported 5-year survival rate of 50% and haematogenous spread [1]. ACC or adenoid cystic carcinoma (also known as a cylindroma) is a rare and malignant tumour that occurs mainly in the non-parotid salivary glands [1, 2]. Acinic cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm which mainly affects the salivary glands (in particular the parotid gland); it constitutes to 1-3% of all the salivary gland tumours [1]. This cancer is normally found to be low grade [1–3] and painless with good prognosis [1–3].

Head and neck cancer carries significant morbidity, affecting appearance and function (i.e. swallowing, speaking and breathing) and consequently patients may experience depression and poor nutrition [1–29]. Surgery is the most definitive method used to treat patients with this unforgiving disease. Furthermore, this disease can be managed using adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), chemoradiotherapy (CR) or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Factors to be taken in consideration for surgery are tumour type, staging, site, likelihood of metastasis, patient age, medical status, ability to tolerate treatment and lifestyle (i.e. smoking and alcohol). RT is often given postoperatively to provide better control of the surgical margins [8]. Chemotherapy is usually offered as a palliative treatment however this situation has changed with introduction of cis-platinum, and now there is potential for it to be used as treatment [8]. Photodynamic therapy is now the forth modality (after surgery, RT and CT) when managing this disease. Other therapies in development include immunotherapy and gene therapy [8].

Mortality in most countries for cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx is around 50-55% within 5 years. Prognosis is worse in older patients and for difficult to access cancers (i.e. laryngopharynx and hypopharynx), both carry a higher mortality [10, 17]. Cancers affecting the lip have the highest 5-year survival rate (90%) most likely due to early detection and accessibility, whereas hypopharyngeal tumours have the lowest survival rates [17]. Females tend to have a better 5-year survival rate for cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx, than males. Patients who present with advanced TNM staging also have a worse prognosis [17]. Additionally, extra capsular spread have worse prognosis [9].

Metastasis from a primary head and neck cancer occur less often in comparison to other cancers due to low incidence of haematogenous spread [1]. SCC are the most likely tumour to spread and the most common site of metastasis for head and neck cancer is the lungs [1, 12, 19]. There are many tumours that are known to commonly spread to the spine [13] and overall the incidence of spinal metastasis is approximately 5% [1, 13]. Spread from other malignancies to the spine is reported to be higher, especially from breast (20%), prostate, lungs (12%), kidney and primary thyroid cancers [20, 22]. However, metastasis arising from a primary head and neck cancer to the spine is not widely reported [13].

Spinal metastasis

Bone, especially the spine [1], is the third commonest site of metastasis after the lungs and liver [1]. Incidence of spinal metastatic neoplasm outnumbers primary spinal neoplasms by more than twenty-to-one [1]. The vast majority originate from breast, lung, prostate or primary renal tumours [1, 2]. Prevalence of spinal metastasis is highest among individuals between the 4th and 7th decade of life [1, 2, 23]. Males are more likely to be afflicted than females; this is thought to be reflective of the higher prevalence of lung cancer in males and the higher prevalence of prostate cancer relative to breast cancer [9–45].

Spinal metastasis (SM) typically affect the thoracic (60-80%), lumbar (15-30%) and cervical spine (<10%) with the preferred route of metastasis to the spine being via the arterial or venous -Batson’s venous plexus - vessels often resulting in multifocal lesions [1, 29]. Direct infiltration from paraspinous disease or, less commonly, through the cerebrospinal fluid [24, 28] are also potential routes of metastasis. The vertebral body (85%) is the commonest site for initial spinal metastasis involvement; the posterior aspect of which is preferentially involved (66%). The paravertebral spaces (10-15%) and the epidural space (<5%) are also initial sites of metastatic involvement [24, 28, 29].

Vertebral metastasis are asymptomatic and may be incidental findings following routine bone scans in patients presenting with systemic disease [21, 28]. Classical clinical symptoms develop with the progression of spinal metastatic disease and are consequences of metastatic infiltration and/or compression of paravetebral, osseous and neural tissue [21].

Spinal canal to spinal cord ratio is smallest in the thoracic spine hence SCCs are more common in the thoracic spine [21]. The most frequent cause of SCC and nerve root compression is the expulsion of metastatic tissue and/or detritus of bone into the spinal canal or neural foramina following metastatic infiltration and ensuing partial collapse of the vertebral body. On infrequent occasion, the metastatic tissue may break into the spinal canal and cause SCC without assaulting the vertebral body’s structural integrity [21].

The chief presenting symptom of spinal metastasis is pain (83-95%) [24, 28]. Spinal metastasis typically presents with progressive, unremitting pain of gradual onset, worse at night and improving with activity and anti-inflammatory medication. Tenderness of the spine in the affected area is common. Pain can also be non-mechanical, radicular or neuropathic especially in the case of intradural metastasis [21, 24, 28].

Neurological dysfunction due to anterior displacement of the spinal cord is also common. A typical early complaint of limb heaviness is confirmed by weakness in 1 ≥ muscle groups on physical examination [24]. Posterior displacement of the spinal cord and impingement against the lamina results in sensory dysfunction [21, 28] is commonly an advanced feature in the clinical course of spinal metastatic disease and can be accompanied by profound motor dysfunctions such as paralysis, anal and urethral sphincter dysfunction and sexual malfunction [24, 28].

Plain X-ray is used to identify metastatic lesions, tumour masses and evaluate spinal stability [25, 28]. X-rays are insensitive in early spinal metastatic diagnosis as 30-50% demineralisation of bone is required before lytic lesions become apparent on radiographic film [24, 25, 28]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold-standard imaging for diagnosis of spinal metastasis. It renders exquisitely detailed multiplanar imaging allowing the visualisation of metastatic infiltration and/or compression of paravetebral, osseous and neural tissue [24, 25, 28]. T1- and T2-weighted imaging as well as contrast-enhanced and fat-suppressed studies in all three planes should aid diagnosis [28].

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is an excellent modality in assessing the osseous spine and has a high degree of accuracy (90% sensitivity, 100% specificity), [24] in identifying metastatic lesions, vertebral destruction and spinal stability. CT angiography is ideal in identifying spinal metastasis from highly vascular primary malignancies [28]. Bone scintigraphy is also used to screen for bone metastasis. However, despite its documented 62-89% sensitivity, it should be noted that bone scintigraphy measures abnormalities in bone metabolism and does not, therefore, possess a high specificity in identifying spinal metastasis [24]. MRI and/or CT should be used to authenticate suspected spinal metastasis. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are both superior to bone scintigraphy and are used in surveillance of patients suspected of SM [24]. Finally biopsy under CT fluoroscopic guidance is crucial in staging SM and formulating surgical/medical treatment plan.

This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the evidence available on management of spinal metastasis from head and neck cancer, excluding cancers of the nasopharynx, cranial sinuses, thyroid, brain and eyes.

Materials and methods

A systematic literature research was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. English as well as non-English studies were retrieved using the following MeSH and non-MeSH terms:

· Oral, Mouth, Tongue, Lingual, Sublingual, Lip, Labial, Salivary Gland/Ducts, Parotid Gland, Mandibular, Submandibular, Piriform Sinus, Oropharynx, Larynx, Hypopharynx, Bone, Head and Neck Cancer/Carcinoma/Neoplasm/Pathology, Mucoepidermoid, Squamous Cell Carcinoma/Primary/Secondary/Diagnosis, Adenocarcinoma/Secondary, Adenoma, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Pleomorphic/Pathology, Acinic Cell Carcinoma, Radiotherapy (RT), Steroids, Chemotherapy (CT), Palliative Care

· Spinal, Vertebral/Thoracic/Lumbar/Cervical, Lymphatic Metastasis/Pathology, Spinal Cord Compression/Aetiology/Therapy

· Male/Female, Adult, Retrospective Studies, Case Studies/Reports, Follow-Up Studies

The inclusion criteria were as follows: original research studies and case studies/reports discussing interventions for distant metastasis in head and neck cancer – medical, surgical, radiological; operative care, treatment outcomes and prognosis.

In order to ensure that no relevant publications were missed; references of articles generated by our primary searches were scanned and reviewed for potential inclusion in this review. The initial searches yielded 93 articles; we excluded studies that only addressed treatment of the primary malignancy, metastasis other than spinal ones. Furthermore, some of the cancers in head and neck area were also excluded; this includes nasopharynx, thyroid, cranial sinuses, brain and eyes cancers. We also excluded studies not available in full text or in the English language.

The data were gathered from the selected articles: primary site, grade, stage of primary tumour, intervention for the primary, location of spinal metastasis, timeframe to metastasis, interventions for the metastasis and outcome following treatment (Table1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Table 1 Summary of the study location, study types and cancer types
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Table 2 Patients with squamous cell carcinoma as primary head and neck cancer
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Table 3 Patients with acinic cell carcinoma as primary head and neck cancer
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Table 4 Patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) as primary head and neck cancer
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Table 5 Patients with carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma as primary head and neck cancer
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The search protocol resulted in fourteen articles finally selected for inclusion in this systematic review; consisting of twelve case reports/studies and two retrospective cohort studies all discussing head and neck cancers with spinal metastasis (Figure1). In total, the studies included 28 patients. Due to the rarity of the condition and dearth of publications, this study was unable to limit the year that articles could be produced and therefore has a broad range of publications ranging from one produced in 1965 to more recent ones in 2009. Two independent reviewers ensured that appropriate articles were selected that met the above criteria.

Figure 1
figure 1

Research criteria.

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Results

Our search protocol retrieved 14 articles published from 1965 to 2009 (Table1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Reported cases of spinal metastasis with primary head and neck cancers were collected, identifying 28 patients in total. Two studies were retrospective cohort studies, and 12 were case studies/reports. Studies varied in terms of location, patient ages and cancer types. Nineteen patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (Table 2), two had acinic cell carcinoma (Table 3), three had adenoid cyctic carcinoma (ACC) (Table 4), and four had carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Table 5). Age (at the time of diagnosis) varied from 28 to 80 (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

In terms of primary site management, surgical excision was performed in fifteen patients, with five patients receiving adjuvant RT, and one patient receiving adjuvant CT. Two patients received RT and CT, one patient received CT as well as chemoradiotherapy (CR), and three patients received RT only. RT was administered to a total of ten patients, and CT was given to four patients in total. Primary site management were not reported in six patients. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were used as the chemotherapeutic agents (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

Spinal metastasis were most commonly seen in the thoracic region, with seventeen patients. Cervical spine lesions were seen in eight patients, and lumbar spine lesions were seen in twelve patients. Most commonly reported spinal symptoms were back pain and weakness, with sixteen patients reporting each of the symptoms. Three patients experienced numbness. Spinal symptoms were not stated in three patients (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

Excision of the spinal metastasis was performed in three patients, and two of the three patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Decompression was performed in seven patients, and four patients were given RT and CT. Twenty-two patients in total received radiotherapy, five received chemotherapy, and seven received steroids. In terms of chemotherapy, cisplatin and 5-FU were used in conjunction in four patients, and one patient received epirubicin on top of the two agents. Etoposide was administered in one patient, and another patient received paclitaxel and carboplatin (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

Fifteen patients reported improved symptoms after intervention, and ten reported no response or worsened symptoms. Outcomes of intervention were not given in three patients. Within the ten patients with no response or worsened symptoms, two patients received decompression laminectomy only, and another patient received decompression and RT. RT, CT and steroids were given to one patient, and another patient received RT and steroids. Two patients received RT only, and one received CT only. One patient refused surgical procedures and RT, therefore received steroids only (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

Seventeen patients were found to have other metastasis. Eight patients had metastasis to the skull, and another patient to the acetabulum. Lung metastasis was seen in six patients, regional metastasis including lymph nodes were seen in five patients, and two patients had metastasis in multiple foci. Five patients had no metastasis other than to the spine, and were not reported in six patients (Table2, 3, 4 and 5).

Mortality rate was 89.5% in patients with head and neck SCC as primary cancer, with variable follow-up periods (few months to few years). The mean time from treatment of spinal metastasis to mortality was 3.4 months in reported cases. Patient 14 from Lee et al. [32], and patient 18 from Tornwall et al. [19], are not included in the mean value, as the authors have failed to state numerative figures. Mean time from primary cancer to spinal metastasis was 15.0 months. Patient 2 and 4 from Ampil et al. [31], have not been included because these values are not stated. Cause of death is not given in the majority, but three have died from disseminated disease, and one from sepsis (Table 2).

Within SCC group, two patients from Ampil et al. [31], (2 and 4) were alive at different follow-up periods (5 months and 88 months), and both had “metachronous” presentation of primary cancer and spinal metastasis, but the exact time frame is not given. The other two patients from Ampil et al. [31], (1 and 3) had “synchronous” presentation of the primary and the metastasis, and both have died at 4 months and 1 month, respectively (Table 2).

There were only three other mortalities in non-SCC cancers. These were patient 2 in Preciado et al. [20], and patients 1 and 2 in Thomas et al. [30]. However, patient 1 in Thomas et al. [30], died of gastrointestinal haemorrhage from benign gastric ulcer, unrelated to the cancer (Table4 and 5). The causes of death in the other two are not given. There were no mortalities seen in acinic cell carcinoma. Mean time from primary cancer to metastasis was 9.4 years in ACC, 38 months in acinic cell carcinoma, and 20.3 years in pleomorphic adenoma (Table34 and 5).

Discussion

Our review identified only 12 case studies and 2 small retrospective cohort studies without controls thus any evidence for best practice specific to management spinal metastasis of head and neck cancer is limited (Table1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Spinal metastasis from head and neck cancer, although rare, is typically terminal and can significantly impede end-stage quality of life leading to worsening intractable pain, numbness, deformity, and paralysis [1]. Management should aim to improve end-stage quality of life and maintain neurological function [35]. Historically, debate over management of spinal metastasis has considered whether RT, surgery or a combination of the two should form a mainstay of treatment [1–3]; as well as which surgical approach is appropriate in different circumstances. Currently, RT is considered the principle treatment of spinal metastasis and the vast majority of cases we identified in the literature from the last ten years used RT +/− medical adjuvants alone. Surgery has still remained part of treatment in certain cases but any decision to perform surgery must also take into consideration a multitude of factors including age, prognosis, comorbidity, type of tumour, tumour location, operability, spinal stability and risks of intervention amongst others [20, 35, 37]. Pathway of spread of head and neck cancer to bone have been highlighted in Figure2 (Adapted from Sano & Myers [42], Carter & Pittman [43], Yu et al. [35] and Yin & Pollock Claire [44]. Pathway of investigations for bone metastasis from the head and neck cancers are highlighted in Figure3 (Adapted from Destombe et al. [45] & Yu et al.[35].

Figure 2
figure 2

Pathway of spread of head and neck cancer to bone – squamous cell carcinoma local and distant metastasis to bone. Adapted from Sano & Myers (2007) [42], Carter & Pittman (1980) [43], Yu et al. (2008) [35] & Yin and Pollock Claire (2005) [44].

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Figure 3
figure 3

Pathway of Investigations for bone metastasis from the oral cavity, oropharynx, laryngopharynx and hypopharynx. Adapted from Destombe et al. (2005) & Yu et al. (2008) [35].

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Radiotherapy

External-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) up to a dose of 8 gray (Gy) is known to be effective on patients with pain and neurological deficit secondary to spinal metastasis from a variety of primary tumours [36]. EBRT uses unfocused, wide beam radiation that can cause damage to surrounding structures. This limits the dose of radiation that can be used as there is risk of radiation damage to the spinal cord itself [1, 18]. Initial treatment for the head and neck primary may also have already used radiation doses close to tolerance levels [18]. Stereotactic radiotherapy or radiosurgery has been shown to be more effective in reducing pain and neurological deficit as they allow more focused radiation and doses well above 8 Gy without damage to the spinal cord [36, 37]. Studies have also found that the effectiveness of EBRT and radiosurgery varies depending on radioresistance of the metastasis so further research comparing effectiveness on different histological types of head and neck cancer would be very welcomed [36].

Systemic radioisotopes with an inclination for osteoclastic bone may also form part of treatment. Strontium-89 or rhenium-189 are two examples of isotopes used with analgesic and antitumour effect. Risk of bone marrow suppression means systemic radioisotope administration is recommended only in those with good bone marrow function and multiple-site spinal metastasis [36]. Only one of our patients – Patient 3 in Preciado [20] - received systemic radioisotope administration, despite several other patients having multi-site metastasis.

Surgery

Surgery is generally indicated for spinal metastasis in the case of new-onset or progressive neurological deficit secondary to metastatic compression of the spinal cord, spinal instability or collapse by bone destruction, solitary easily resectable spinal metastasis, fracture-dislocation of spine, an enlarging radioresistant tumour, intractable pain unresponsive to nonsurgical intervention (i.e. RT, CT) and a life expectancy of more than 3 months [1, 2, 13, 36, 37, 40, 41]. Preciado [20] has suggested that surgery be performed in case of patients with head and neck neoplasms with unstable spines, no improvement after 2 days of radiotherapy and a life expectancy of greater than 6 months. However, Mendes [18] has questioned the applicability of this approach in all cases. Cervical stability is better maintained by a ventral approach in decompressive surgery, whereas dorsal approaches are more suitable for thoracic and lumbar metastasis [36, 37]. Adjuvant radiotherapy has been shown to improve the efficacy of surgery [36]. The surgical options to be considered in spinal metastasis are highlighted in Table 6 (adapted from Bartels [36] and Delank [37]).

Table 6 The surgical options to be considered in spinal metastasis
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Medical therapy

Medical options include analgesics, intravenous steroids, bisphosphonates and chemotherapeutics [20, 35–37]. Opioids are especially effective for nociceptive pain; gabapentin, Amitriptyline and doxepin are useful in cases of neuropathic type pain [36]. IV steroids also relieve pain and improve neurological symptoms by reducing vasogenic oedema in the spinal cord contributing to compression [35].

Bisphosphonates reduce metastatic bone complications such as fracture and pain and moderate hypercalcemia by reducing the action of osteoclasts [35–37]. Only one of the patients (Vahtsevanos et al. [33] patient 3) in the studies we have reviewed was treated with bisphosphonates. This may indicate an area to be explored in the future with regards to possible benefits for head and neck cancer spinal metastasis.

Chemotherapeutic agents have been used with some patients in our series as an adjuvant to radiotherapy or surgery [20, 33, 34]. In the one case where they were used alone as primary treatment, no response was seen [33]. The role of chemotherapy in spinal metastasis management of head and neck cancer needs to be explored further [20].

As spinal metastasis from head and neck cancer is very rare there is very little, if any, high quality evidence for best practice. Our extensive literature search only produced 14 papers from the last 47 years, 12 of which were case studies/reports. We were therefore forced to rely on literature relating to treatment recommendations for spinal metastasis from other primary cancers to assess the range of treatments in use [36, 37]. In recent years, there have been more case studies/reports discussing the treatment of head and neck cancer spinal metastasis [13, 18, 20, 31, 35]. These case studies/reports, in general, have not used a systematic approach to improve assessment of treatment outcomes. Such a systematic approach might be use of a standardized neurological scoring system to assess functional improvements from interventions or a standardised assessment of pain. Histology of head and neck cancers is diverse: cancers of the buccal mucosa are overwhelmingly SCC, whilst salivary gland cancers present with a more mixed pattern. This makes generalisations about the best approach for management spinal metastasis from the head and neck problematic. The inclusion of other head and neck cancers (i.e. nasopharynx, thyroid, cranial sinuses, brain and eyes cancers) may even complicates the problem.

All patients with suspected bone metastasis must be investigated thoroughly. There should be a high-index of suspicion in any patient with a previous history of cancer presenting with back pain [15]. Investigation should begin with a thorough examination and systematic assessment of neurological function. Imaging should include plain radiography, CT of spine and/or MRI, radionuclide bone scintigraphy and FDG PET scan. An intraosseous and extraosseous needle or trocar biopsy may then be performed to determine if metastasis matches cytology of suspected primary site.

There is inadequate evidence for a treatment protocol to be recommended. Our recommendations are based on current evidence for spinal metastasis from all primary sites including head and neck and non-head and neck. Radiotherapy should be used in all patients with non-radioresistant tumours and sufficient health and prognosis to warrant radiotherapy [36, 37]. Surgery should be considered in all patient cases of new-onset or progressive neurological deficit secondary to metastatic compression of the spinal cord, spinal instability or collapse by bone destruction, solitary easily resectable spinal metastasis, fracture-dislocation of spine, an enlarging radioresistant tumour, intractable pain unresponsive to nonsurgical intervention and a life expectancy of more than 3 months [13, 36, 37, 40, 41]. Effectiveness of bisphophonates has not been explored in this context and needs to be investigated further. Management pathway of spinal metastasis is highlighted in Figure4 (Adapted from Preciado et al. [20]).

Figure 4
figure 4

Management pathway of spinal metastasis. Adapted from Preciado et al. (2002) [20].

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Conclusions

It is difficult to draw a decisive conclusion for best practice in treatment of spinal metastasis for head and neck cancers. Firstly, head and neck cancers are of diverse histology and vary widely in aggressiveness. Secondly, there is no good quality evidence for which interventions are most effective. More research is needed with controls and systematic assessment of outcomes in order to determine the best mix of medical therapy, radiotherapy and surgery for different patient groups. This will remain difficult given the rarity of spinal metastasis from head and neck cancers.