Metastatic head and neck cancer to the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy exit site: a case report and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a relatively safe procedure and is an important supportive treatment adjunct for patients with head and neck cancer. We report a case in which squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx implanted at a PEG exit site. This was resected for cure. In this case, and in five others reviewed in the literature, the PEG placement method was the "pull" technique. It is unknown whether other methods of PEG placement may reduce metastatic implants at the PEG exit site, but the possibility of this complication must be considered.