title: Cervical metastasis from the unknown primary tumor.
abstract: A retrospective study was performed to examine the results of treatment for cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary between 1978 and 1988. We reviewed 66 patients treated with either surgery and/or radiotherapy (n = 41), radiation therapy and chemotherapy (n = 11), combined modality treatment with surgery (n = 8) or with management delayed to proven disease (n = 6). The male-to-female ratio was 5.6 to 1, and the median age was 64 years (range, 15-89 years). Intercurrent death-corrected 5-year survival was 50%. The most important prognostic factors were M category and involvement of supraclavicular nodes. Primary tumor was eventually discovered in 12 patients during follow-up, 6 of whom received treatment with curative intent. The most common site of primary tumor was found to be the lung (n = 5).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Rotterdam, Dijkzigt/Dr. Daniel den Hoed, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oen
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hop
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knegt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate