title: Treatment of cervical lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary tumor, with a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The results of treatment at the Free University Hospital of 44 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis of an unknown primary tumor were reviewed in order to establish an optimal treatment policy and to look for prognostic parameters. These results were compared with results of other treatment policies known from the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three out of the 44 patients received a treatment with curative intent; 22 cases received a unilateral neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy, 7 were irradiated after an excisional biopsy and 4 received radical radiotherapy alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the whole group 5- and 10-year overall survival was 50% and 44%, respectively, and for the group treated with curative intent 68% and 56%, respectively. Disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years after treatment for the whole group was 48% and 32%, respectively, and for the group treated with curative intent 63% and 37%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multivariate analysis showed only treatment with intent and histology as significant independent prognostic factors for the whole group. For the patients treated with curative intent no significant influences of variables were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van der Planken
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Karim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors