[Malignant cervical epithelial adenopathy from unknown primary source. Apropos of a series of 54 cases]. / Les adénopathies cervicales malignes épithéliales en apparence primitives. A propos d'une série de 54 cas.

Fifty four patients with cervical lymph node metastasis from an unknown primary tumor underwent treatment from 1969 to 1988. Fourty five underwent radical neck dissection. 69% had node capsular effraction and 36% perinodal vascular embolism. Thirty four patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy including rhinopharynx, cervical oesophagus and all the bilateral cervical nodes. The primary tumor appeared after treatment in 7 cases. Total survival rate is 36% 5 years after treatment. Vascular embolism aggravates the prognosis. Radiosurgical association allow effective control of loco-regional cancer but does not improve survival rate. Prognosis is aggravated by metastases arising (18%).