A Gastrointestinal Anomaly: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue Reemerging as a Metastatic Colonic Polyp

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastasizes often to the liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. Gastrointestinal metastasis is not widely documented. A 75-year-old man with SCC of the tongue in remission status post chemoradiation presented with anemia and thrombocytopenia. Colonoscopy showed multiple polyps and a large ulcer over the transverse colon. The pathology department reported lymphovascular invasion and a positive p16 staining, an immunohistologic finding associated with high-risk human papillomavirus. Managing metastatic SCC of the colon poses a clinical challenge owing to its low occurrence and absence of treatment protocols. Further research into the mechanisms underlying SCC metastasis, particularly to the gastrointestinal tract, is warranted.