Download PDF
J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2016; 77(02): 131-139
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1582239
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Perineural Spread of Head and Neck Cancer: Ophthalmic Considerations

Thomas Benton Ableman
1   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
,
Steven A. Newman
1   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 April 2016 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Head and neck malignancies with orbital involvement present difficult decisions to the treating physician. When the spread is perineural, the challenges are greater due to the incipient nature of the spread and the fact that the orbit can also be involved by centrifugal spread from the non-ophthalmic branches of the trigeminal nerve. The disease is often misdiagnosed and the subsequent delay in treatment results in worse outcomes. This article discusses the evaluation of the eye and the many facets of orbital involvement by perineural spread of malignancy including the treatment of complications.

Keywords

perineural spread - adenoid cystic carcinoma - squamous cell carcinoma - head and neck malignancy - neurotrophic keratitis
 

  • References

  • 1 Cruveilhier J. Maladies des nerfs. In: Cruveilhier J, , ed. Anatomie pathologique du corps humain. 2nd ed. Part 35. Paris: JB Bailliere; 1835: 3
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Mohs FE, Lathrop TG. Modes of spread of cancer of skin. AMA Arch Derm Syphilol 1952; 66 (4) 427-439
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Ballantyne AJ, McCarten AB, Ibanez ML. The extension of cancer of the head and neck through peripheral nerves. Am J Surg 1963; 106: 651-667
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Dodd GD, Dolan PA, Ballantyne AJ, Ibanez ML, Chau P. The dissemination of tumors of the head and neck via the cranial nerves. Radiol Clin North Am 1970; 8 (3) 445-461
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Carter RL, Tanner NSB, Clifford P, Shaw HJ. Perineural spread in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck: a clinicopathological study. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1979; 4 (4) 271-281
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Bourne RG. The Costello Memorial Lecture. The spread of squamous carcinoma of the skin via the cranial nerves. Australas Radiol 1980; 24 (2) 106-114
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Cottel WI. Perineural invasion by squamous-cell carcinoma. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1982; 8 (7) 589-600
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Clouston PD, Sharpe DM, Corbett AJ, Kos S, Kennedy PJ. Perineural spread of cutaneous head and neck cancer. Its orbital and central neurologic complications. Arch Neurol 1990; 47 (1) 73-77
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Catalano PJ, Sen C, Biller HF. Cranial neuropathy secondary to perineural spread of cutaneous malignancies. Am J Otol 1995; 16 (6) 772-777
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Goepfert H, Dichtel WJ, Medina JE, Lindberg RD, Luna MD. Perineural invasion in squamous cell skin carcinoma of the head and neck. Am J Surg 1984; 148 (4) 542-547
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Roper-Hall G. The hess screen test. Am Orthopt J 2006; 56: 166-174
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Veness MJ, Biankin S. Perineural spread leading to orbital invasion from skin cancer. Australas Radiol 2000; 44 (3) 296-302
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Brazis PW, Vogler JB, Shaw KE. The “numb cheek-limp lower lid” syndrome. Neurology 1991; 41 (2, Pt 1): 327-328
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Unsöld R, Safran AB, Safran E, Hoyt WF. Metastatic infiltration of nerves in the cavernous sinus. Arch Neurol 1980; 37 (1) 59-61
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Moore CE, Hoyt WF, North JB. Painful ophthalmoplegia following treated squamous carcinoma of the forehead. Orbital apex involvement from centripetal spread via the supraorbital nerve. Med J Aust 1976; 1: 657-659
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Schroeder TL, Mac Farlane DF, Goldberg LH. Pain as an atypical presentation of squamous cell carcinoma. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24 (2) 263-266
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Silbert PL, Kelsall GR, Shepherd JM, Gubbay SS. Enigmatic trigeminal sensory neuropathy diagnosed by facial skin biopsy. Clin Exp Neurol 1992; 29: 234-238
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Esmaeli B, Ginsberg L, Goepfert H, Deavers M. Squamous cell carcinoma with perineural invasion presenting as a Tolosa-Hunt-like syndrome: a potential pitfall in diagnosis. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2000; 16 (6) 450-452
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Newman-Toker DE, Rizzo III JF. Subjectively quantified Maddox rod testing improves diagnostic yield over alternate cover testing alone in patients with diplopia. J Clin Neurosci 2010; 17 (6) 727-730
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Dinkin M. Diagnostic approach to diplopia. Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2014; 20 (4 Neuro-ophthalmology): 942-965
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 ten Hove MW, Glaser JS, Schatz NJ. Occult perineural tumor infiltration of the trigeminal nerve. Diagnostic considerations. J Neuroophthalmol 1997; 17 (3) 170-177
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Parker GD, Harnsberger HR. Clinical-radiologic issues in perineural tumor spread of malignant diseases of the extracranial head and neck. Radiographics 1991; 11 (3) 383-399
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Caldemeyer KS, Mathews VP, Righi PD, Smith RR. Imaging features and clinical significance of perineural spread or extension of head and neck tumors. Radiographics 1998; 18 (1) 97-110 , quiz 147
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Maroldi R, Ravanelli M, Borghesi A, Farina D. Paranasal sinus imaging. Eur J Radiol 2008; 66 (3) 372-386
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Tailor TD, Gupta D, Dalley RW, Keene CD, Anzai Y. Orbital neoplasms in adults: clinical, radiologic, and pathologic review. Radiographics 2013; 33 (6) 1739-1758
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Rodriguez AR, Rebello R. Teaching NeuroImages: perineural spread of basal cell carcinoma along the trigeminal nerve. Neurology 2011; 77 (20) e118
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Esmaeli B, Ahmadi MA, Gillenwater AM, Faustina MM, Amato M. The role of supraorbital nerve biopsy in cutaneous malignancies of the periocular region. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 19 (4) 282-286
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 McDougall AC, Chaplin AJ, Jones RL. Infiltration of the supraorbital nerve by basal cell carcinoma. Am J Dermatopathol 1983; 5 (4) 381-384
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Barakos JA, Dillon WP. Lesions of the foramen ovale: CT-guided fine-needle aspiration. Radiology 1992; 182 (2) 573-575
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Bhatnagar AK, Heron DE, Schaitkin B. Perineural invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip with occult involvement of the infra-orbital nerve detected by PET-CT and treated with MRI-based IMRT: a case report. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2005; 4 (3) 251-253
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Bowyer JD, Sullivan TJ, Whitehead KJ, Kelly LE, Allison RW. The management of perineural spread of squamous cell carcinoma to the ocular adnexae. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 19 (4) 275-281
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 32 Solares CA, Mason E, Panizza BJ. Surgical management of perineural spread of head and neck cancers. J Neurol Surg B 2016; (e-pub ahead of print). doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1579751
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Nemet AY, Martin P, Benger R , et al. Orbital exenteration: a 15-year study of 38 cases. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 23 (6) 468-472
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Karabekmez FE, Selimoglu MN, Duymaz A, Karamese MS, Keskin M, Savaci N. Management of neglected periorbital squamous cell carcinoma requiring orbital exenteration. J Craniofac Surg 2014; 25 (3) 729-734
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Tyers AG. Orbital exenteration for invasive skin tumours. Eye (Lond) 2006; 20 (10) 1165-1170
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 36 Finger PT, Mukkamala SK. Intravitreal anti-VEGF bevacizumab (Avastin) for external beam related radiation retinopathy. Eur J Ophthalmol 2011; 21 (4) 446-451
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 37 Frank SJ, Cox JD, Gillin M , et al. Multifield optimization intensity modulated proton therapy for head and neck tumors: a translation to practice. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2014; 89 (4) 846-853
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 38 Linton OR, Moore MG, Brigance JS, Summerlin DJ, McDonald MW. Proton therapy for head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma: initial clinical outcomes. Head Neck 2015; 37 (1) 117-124
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 39 Pommier P, Liebsch NJ, Deschler DG , et al. Proton beam radiation therapy for skull base adenoid cystic carcinoma. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006; 132 (11) 1242-1249
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar