Radiation Oncology Journal

The Korean Society for Radiation Oncology (대한방사선종양학회)
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Radiotherapy of Neck Node Metastases from an Unknown Primary Cancer

원발병소 불명암의 경부림프절 전이에서 방사선치료의 역할

  • Lee, Jeong-Eun (Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine)
  • 이정은 (경북대학교 의과대학 방사선종양학교실)
  • Published : 2007.12.30
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Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to analyze the results of radiotherapy administered to patients with neck node metastases from an unknown primary cancer, with or without neck dissection. Materials and Methods: From January 1986 to December 2005, 88 patients with neck node metastases from an unknown primary cancer were treated with curative intent. The age of the patients ranged from 35 to 74 years (median age, 59 years). There were 74 male and 14 female patients. Distribution of patients by N status was as follows: N1, 4 patients; N2a, 10 patients; N2b, 48 patients; N2c, 8 patients; N3, 18 patients. Fifty-one patients underwent neck dissection and 37 patients had only a biopsy (31 patients had fine-needle aspiration and 6 patients had an excisional biopsy). All patients received radiotherapy. The follow-up time ranged from 1 to 154 months, with a median time of 32 months. Results: The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 5 years were 43.9% and 41.7%, respectively. The factors associated with the OS rate were neck dissection, and a subsequent primary tumor. Factors associated with the DFS rate were N stage, neck dissection, and a subsequent primary tumor. Neck failure was noted in 15 patients, distant metastases in 18 patients, and a subsequent primary tumor in 8 patients. Conclusion: With comprehensive radiotherapy given to the bilateral neck and the potential mucosal sites, good survival rates can be obtained in patients with neck node metastases from an unknown primary cancer. However, considering the side effects, a randomized trial is required to determine the optimal radiotherapy volume.

목적: 원발병소 불명암의 경부림프절 전이 환자에서 방사선치료의 결과를 분석하고자 후향적 연구를 실시하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1986년 1월부터 2005년 12월까지 원발병소 불명암의 경부림프절 전이로 진단받고 근치적 목적으로 방사선치료 또는 수술 후 방사선치료를 실시한 환자 88명을 대상으로 본 연구를 시행하였다. 환자의 중앙연령은 59세($35{\sim}74$세)이고 남자 74명, 여자 14명이었다. 조직학적으로 편평상피암이 72명, 미분화세포암이 6명, 선암이 1명이었고 조직학적으로 분류할 수 없었던 환자가 9명이었다. N 병기는 N1 병기가 4명, N2a 병기가 10명, N2b 병기 48명, N2c 병기가 8명, N3병기가 18명이었다. 방사선치료만 시행 받은 환자는 10명, 동시병용 방사선-항암화학요법을 받은 환자는 27명, 수술 및 수술 후 방사선치료는 35명, 수술 및 수술 후 동시병용 방사선-항암화학요법은 16명의 환자에서 시행되었다. 상부 경부림프절과 잠재적 원발병소인 인후두에 조사된 총 방사선량은 $50.4{\sim}79.6$ Gy (중앙값, 59.4Gy)였고, 하부 경부림프절에 조사된 총 방사선량은 $50{\sim}59.4$ Gy (중앙값 50Gy)였다. 추적관찰기간은 $1{\sim}154$개월(중앙값 32개월)이었다. 결과: 완전관해를 얻은 환자는 57명(70.4%)이었고 부분환해는 8명(9.9%)의 환자에서 관찰되었다. 전체 환자의 5년 생존율은 43.9%였으며, 5년 무병생존율은 41.7%였다. 경부절제술 여부와 원 발종양 발생 여부가 생존율에 영향을 미치는 예후인자이고, N 병기와 경부절제술 여부, 원발종양 발생여부가 무병생존율에 영향을 미치는 예후인자로 분석되었다. 결 론: 원발병소 불명암의 경부 림프절 전이 환자에서 근치적 수술과 방사선치료로 좋은 생존결과를 얻을 수 있으며, 양측 경부와 잠재적 원발병소를 포함한 광범위 방사선치료는 좋은 국소 제어율과 생존율을 기대할 수 있다. 그러나 광범위 방사선치료로 인한 부작용을 줄이기 위하여 방사선치료 범위에 대한 더 많은 연구가 필요하다.

Keywords

References

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