We analyzed retrospectively 54 cases of metastatic cancers of neck with unknown primary sites, treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and combined modalities at Korea Cancer Center Hospital from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1992.
Mean age of the patients was 53.9 years, with a male predominance of 4.4 to 1. The commom age groups were 6th and 7th decades (each 17 cases, 31.5%). Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinomas(34 cases, 63.0%) were the most commom, followed by
the
poorly differentiated carcinomas(11 cases, 20.4%). Undifferentiated carcinomas(5 cases, 9.3%), adenocarcinomas(3 cases, 5.6%). Lymph nodes containing tumor were distributed symmetrically between both sides of the neck. The jugular lymph nodes
were
most
often involved. According to the criteria of the AJCC on staging, N1 was 1 case, N2a 2 cases, N2b 23 cases, N2c 5 cases and n3 23 cases.
Twenty seven patients were received surgery and post-operative radiotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy, 13 patients radiotherapy with or without ajuvant chemotherapy and 4 patients surgery only. Overall 2 and 5 year survival rates by
actuarial method were 31.4 and 22.8%.
The primary lesions were discovered in 11 patients(20.4%). The primary sites were lung (4 cases. 7.4%). Mouth floor (2 cases) and hypopharynx, soft palate, tonsil, gum and breast (1 case of each).
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