Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma metastasis to the external auditory canal with facial nerve paralysis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to present a case of small cell carcinoma arising from the tonsil with metastasis to the external auditory canal (EAC) and associated facial nerve paralysis.

METHODS

This study includes a case report and review of the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma from the head and neck is rarely described and carries a poor prognosis. It often presents with widely metastatic disease. To our knowledge, this is the first case report describing extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma from the tonsil with metastatic disease to the EAC. Irregular lesions in the EAC must be considered suspicious for metastasis in a patient with a history of cancer.