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[Detection of primary tumor in cervical lymph node metastases of unknown origin]
1Servicio de ORL, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Insalud, Zamora.
Objective:
To determine the incidence of cervical metastases of cancer of unknown origin and the probability of locating the primary tumor.
Design:
A three-year prospective study (January 1992 to December 1994).
Setting:
Patients of the Zamora (Spain) health district who were seen in the head and neck oncology unit of the Virgen de la Concha Hospital for malignant neck tumor.
Study Subjects:
Seventy-nine patients with lymphatic carcinomatous metastases in neck.
Results:
A primary tumor of the pharynx, larynx, or oral cavity was found in 56 cases (70.9%). No primary tumor was located in 12 patients (15.2%). The primary tumor was an asymptomatic tumor of the chest, abdomen, or pelvis in 11 cases (13.9%) (3 pulmonary, 2 renal, 2 prostatic, 1 vesical, 1 gastric, and 2 esophageal). The probability of locating the primary tumor by clinical examination and noninvasive methods was p = 0.95.
Conclusions:
The diagnostic strategy for cervical metastases of an unknown primary was reviewed. The probability of locating the primary tumor depended on diagnostic phase.