Very delayed cervical lymph node metastases from hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma: Report of 2 cases

Background Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a rare salivary gland neoplasm most often found in the oral cavity. Although it is generally a low‐grade malignancy that is treated with wide local excision, there is a growing body of evidence pointing toward the potential for more aggressive behavior. Methods We reviewed available records of patients with delayed cervical lymph node metastases from HCCC. Results Two patients who were treated with wide local resection for HCCC and remained disease‐free at the primary site were diagnosed with cervical lymph node metastases 10 and 14 years later. We treated both with neck dissection, and 1 patient received adjuvant radiation therapy. Conclusion These cases illustrate the risk for occult nodal metastases from HCCC with delayed presentation. Clinician awareness of the presence of subclinical metastases in the neck requires thorough long‐term surveillance and potential intervention should nodal disease become manifest. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E19‐E21, 2015