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Based upon the autopsy findings, the incidence of distant metastasis was studied to seek the relativity between the method of treatment and the TNM system at the time of initial examination on 31 cases with squamous cell carcinoma in the maxilla-facial region. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The incidence of distant metastasis among all of these cases was 58 per cent. 2) There was no significant difference in the incidence between the groups with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. 3) There was no relativity with the TNM system. 4) In the group with radiation therapy, the incidence at the “sites of the movable mucosa” was significantly higher than that at the “sites of the non-movable mucosa.” 5) There was no relationship to the performance of radical neck dissection.

Carcinoma arising from the remnant of branchial epithelium or branchial cleft cyst is known as branchiogenic carcinoma. It is very rare, and its existence is a matter of controversy. We report a case of cystic carcinoma of the upper neck that fully met Martin's criteria for branchiogenic carcinoma. A 53-year-old male visited Tsurumi University Dental Hospital with a swelling on the left side of the neck. Three tumors were excised from the neck, and histopathology revealed squamous cell carcinoma in a cystic lesion. As metastatic carcinoma of the cervical lymph nodes was suspected, the appropriate clinical tests and imaging were performed to determine the possible presence of a primary tumor. However, no primary carcinoma was found. These findings suggest that this was a case of branchiogenic carcinoma. The patient was treated with radiotherapy and followed up over an 8-year period. No evidence of recurrence was found.