The Result of Management on Cervical Metastasis of Unknown Origin

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2001;17(2):185-189.
Published online November 30, 2001.

Jae Phil Paeng;Seong Dong Jo;Ki Jung Lim;Eun Joong Kim;Ji Hoon Park;Soon Young Kwon;Jong Ouck Choi;Kwang Yoon Jung

경부 원발부불명 전이성 암의 치료 결과

팽재필;조성동;임기정;김은중;박지훈;권순영;최종욱;정광윤

Abstract

Background: Cervical metastasis of unknown origin is defined as histologic evidence of malignancy in the cervical lymph nodes with no apparent primary site of origin for the metastatic tumor. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of 20 cervical metastasis of unknown origin diagnosed and managed between january 1989 and December 1999 at the Korea University was undertaken to determine outcome. Patient age ranged 46 to 78 years (mean 60). There were 17 men and 3 women. The aim of this study is to ananlyze the diagnostic approach and the result of treatment of the cervical metastasis of unknown origin. Result: Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma (15 case, 75%) were the most common, followed by adenocarcinoma (4 case, 20%), undifferentiated carcinoma (1 case, 5%) According to the criteria of the AJCC on staging, N1 was 2 cases, N2a 2 cases, N2b 5 cases, N2c 1 cases, N3 10 cases. Overall survival rate for all patients at 2 years was 45% and 5 years 25%, and in the combination therapy(surgery and radiotherapy group (12 cases)) it was 67% and 34% respectively, high compared with other treatment modality such as surgery or radiotherapy alone. In extracapsular spread positive group, 5 year survival rate was 12%, but was 33% in the extracapsular spread negative group.
Conclusion
With no stastatical significance, extracapsular spread group was poor outcome in our study. Combination of radiotherapy and surgery was more effective treatment result than surgery alone or radiotherapy alone in our study. But, overall prognosis of cervical metastasis of unknown origin was very poor despite aggressive treatment (5 year survival rate: 25%).

Key Words: Cervical metastasis of unknown origin, Extracapsular spread, Combination therapy