Cervix uterine Cancer with Axillary and Neck Lymph Node Metastasis: An Unusual Finding

Abstract

Background: Cervix uterii cancer is the fourth most common female malignancy. It commonly spreads by direct extension or lymphatic dissemination within the pelvis into the regional lymph nodes. Distant lymph node metastasis remains exeptionnal. To our knowledge, synchronous cervical and axillary lymph node metastasis from cervix cancer have never been reported. Here we report a case of cervical and axillary lymph node metastasis from cervix uterii cancer. Case presentation: A 51-year-old woman diagnosed with cervix uterii cancer and treated with cocomitant chemoradiotherapy, presented 8 months after the initial diagnosis multiple round masses located at the left side of her neck. F-18 FDG PET/CT revealed pathological axillary and neck lymph nodes. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the metastatic nature of the lymph nodes. the patient underwent lymph node dissection before undergoing chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy to the affected cervical and axillary lymph nodes. Conclusions: Metastases from the uterine cervix to the neck lymph nodes are extremely uncommon. Lymphatic drainage and the lymph node jump phenomenon can explain the possible mode of cervical cancer tumor cell spread to the neck area. The mechanism of axillary lymph node metastasis from cervix uterii cancer can be explained by the communication between neck lymph nodes and axillary lymph nodes due to the alteration of the centripetal flow causing a retrograd spread. Distant lymph node metastasis in cervix uterii cancer are associated with a poor prognosis.