[Results of treating cervical metastases of an unknown primary tumor. A report of 29 cases]. / Resultados del tratamiento de las metástasis cervicales de primario no filiado. A propósito de 29 casos.

A retrospective study was made of 29 patients with cervical metastasis of an unknown primary tumor. Sixteen patients received local treatment with surgery and radiotherapy (group A) and 13 patients were treated with induction chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy (group B). All patients responded. Local recurrence occurred in 21.4% of group A and 20% of group B. The frequency of distant metastases was similar (18.8% vs 15.4%). The mean survival time of 68 months in group A was longer than the 40 months of group B, and the a 2-year survival rate was 81% in group A and 67% in group B. The 5-year survival was better in group B (56% vs 40%). The primary tumor was identified twice as often in the patients who received only local treatment (group A 37.5% and group B 15.4%). Detection of the primary tumor was the only factor that significantly influenced patient survival.