Progressive loss of upper limb function as a presenting feature of glenohumoral metastasis from a primary tongue malignancy

Skeletal distant metastasis occurs rarely in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Palliative chemo or radio-therapy, immunotherapy or surgical treatment are indicated depending on the site, number of bony metastases and performance score of the patient; however with guarded prognosis. Due to the high mortality of patients with distant metastasis, early detection by imaging and identification of biomarkers can aid in prognostication and treatment planning. This paper describes a rare occurrence of shoulder skeletal metastasis in two patients who underwent initial definitive surgery followed by adjuvant therapy for lateral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.