title: [The place of radiotherapy in the treatment of lymph node metastases in the neck from upper respiratory and digestive tract neoplasms].
abstract: The management of lymphnode disease is a common denominator in the treatment of all head and neck cancers. Only in a few clinical situations does irradiation or surgery alone yield a satisfactory control rate. The rationale for combination of both disciplines is based on two facts: a) Irradiations (5000 rads in 5 weeks) can eradicate the microscopic disease that a radical surgical procedure cannot remove; b) high doses of irradiation fail to control large cancer volumes (6500 rads in 6-7 weeks to a lymphnode greater than or equal to 3 cm: about 20% recurrence rate). The therapy sequence must be flexible and depend on clinical factors. The radicalism of both disciplines should be reduced in order to diminish the complication rate.
mesh_terms: D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms
vernacular_title: Place de la radiothérapie dans le traitement des adénopathies métastatiques cervicales des carcinomes des voies aéro-digestives supérieures.