[Carcinoma metastases in neck lymph nodes in occult primary tumor: survival rate depending from localization, stadium, histology and therapeutic method (48 patients)].

In patients with metastatic cancer in cervical nodes without evidence of a primary cancer, radiation therapy eventually supplemented by surgery is indicated. The treated volume should include the regions of the possible primary (pharynx, base of tongue, tonsil) besides the cervical node regions. Five-year cure rates are: about 40% in cases with cervical nodes only, more than 50% in cases with cervical nodes in one region only and not fixed, less than 10% in cases with supraclavicular nodes. In about 30% a primary tumor is found later. About 50% of these primaries is located in the supraclavicular volume and about 50% is located in the infraclavicular volume. In cases with supraclavicular nodes the majority of the primary tumors are located in the infraclavicular colume.