Simultaneous (non-epidermoid) neoplasms involving the head and neck

The phenomenon of multiple primary malignant neoplasms involving the head and neck is well documented. Epidermoid carcinomas constitute the majority of these neoplasms. Case reports are made of two patients with simultaneously occurring chronic reticuloendothelial malignancies and non-epidermoid tumors involving the head and neck. The first case is one of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and metastatic primary retroperitoneal extragonadal seminoma, while the second is one of lymphocytic lymphoma (LL) and a carotid body tumor (CBT). The head and neck manifestations of metastatic seminoma, CBT, and CLL and LL are discussed. A review of the literature of the association of each of these entities to other tumors is presented. Also presented is the evidence for an increased incidence of malignancies associated with CLL and LL and the complicating factors introduced when reticuloendothelial malignancies occur simultaneously with head and neck neoplasms.