title: [Metastasis to the lymph nodes from an occult primary tumor: aspects of diagnostics and therapy (author's transl)].
abstract: Sixty-one patients with lymph node metastases and occult primary tumor are reported. The patients were analyzed with respect to age and sex, as well as to the histologic diagnosis of the lymph nodes examined. In 24 of these patients, the primary tumor was found later; in 12 of these, not until autopsy. Site and histologic type of the lymph node metastases permit conclusions about the primary tumor. Treatment of the metastasis by surgery or irradiation ist indicated in order to hinder expansion and, in cases of late discovery of primary tumor, to take advantage of the remaining chances for a cure. The prognosis is unfavorable when the primary tumor remains undiscovered. In our patient group, the average survival time following confirmation of a lymph node metastasis was only 25 months. Lymph node metastases in the neck region are a special case. Here, the occult primary tumor ist sometimes cured in connection with surgery and/or irradiation of the cervical region.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Lymphknotenmetastasen bei unbekanntem Primärtumor. Diagnostische und therapeutische Aspekte.