• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2007

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.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 1986

During the past 14years 267 patients presented with a lump in the neck proven to be metastatic cancer histologically. In most cases the primary site was discovered by thorough physical examination, E.U.A.(examination under anesthesia) and radiodiagnostic studies. However in 31 cases complete diagnostic evaluation failed to reveal the primary site. This paper discusses the characteristics of this group of patients in terms of the frequency of the ultimately discovered primary sites, policies for diagnosis, methods of management, and the ultimate prognosis for such cases in Korea. The male: female ratio was 6.8:1 and 84 % of all cases occurred in the $51{\sim)70$ age group. The majority of these cancers were epidermoid carcinomas(67.7%) and 22 of the 31(71 %) were Stage IV lesinos(17 N3A lesions and 5 N3B lesions). Surgical management was employed in 7 cases only, and in 5 cases this was combined with rediotherapy, chemotherapy, or both. Nevertheless, the only patients who survived disease-free for two years or more (one for over 5 years) were two patients in this management group. None of the patients treated by radiotherapy or chemotherapy of a combination of these two modalities survived. Occult primary sites were eventually discovered in 5 of the 31 cases, two in the nasopharynx, and one each in the base of tongue, pyrifrom sinus, middle ear. Of the 21 cases with epidermoid carcinoma which presented in the neck, 2 are free of disease for 3years or more. Of those who underwent radical surgery two of five survived. This study thus confirms the principle enunciated by MacComb in 1972 that surgical treatment in the form of radical neck dissection is the cornerstone of management whenever feasible.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 1997

group($22\%\;vs.\;38\%$, p=0.24). The 5YSRs of 21 patients of primary tumor extension to adjacent sites and the other 13 patients of tonsillar proper site were $28\%\;and\;38\%$, respectively but the difference was not significant statistically(p=0.52) There was a statistically significant difference in 5YSRs between the groups of the Patients who received radiotherapy in less than 61days vs more than 60days($60\%\;vs.\;18\%$, p=0.027). All living Patients without any tumor progression(n=11) had suffered from serious late sequelae such as xerostomia, edentia, dental caries and one patient had the osteoradionecrosis of mandible. On univariate analysis. the duration of radiotherapy and T-stage were the significant prognostic factors affecting 5YSR. On multivariate analysis, also the duration of radiotherapy was the only significant Prognostic factor(p=0.01). Conclusion : There was no survival difference between the radiotherapy alone and with neoadiuvant chemothe groups. Although it was a retrospective study, the role of conventional radiotherapy alone could be effective as the local treatment modality only for the early stage of tonsillar carcinomas. But for the purpose of more improved survivals and better quality of lives of living patients, other altered fractionation such as hyperfractionated radiotherapy with shorter treatment time and smaller fraction size rather than conventional radiotherapy might be beneficial and these prospective studies are needed.