Stages of Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary

After metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

The process used to find out if cancer has spread to other parts of the body is called staging. There is no standard staging system for metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary. Depending on whether the cancer was caused by human papillomavirus 16 or Epstein-Barr virus, oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal cancer staging may be used. For more information, see the section called Stage Information for Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary in the health professional version of this page.

The results from tests and procedures used to detect and diagnose the primary tumor are also used to find out if cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.

Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:

• Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
• Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
• Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.

Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary can recur (come back) after it has been treated.

The cancer may come back in the neck or in other parts of the body.