Control of neck nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by radiotherapy: prognostic factors.

313 patients with cervical metastases from a squamous carcinoma of the head and neck treated with radiotherapy, were studied by means of a multivariant analysis in order to determine the prognostic factors for cure. These were: lymph node response to irradiation (P = 0.0000), size of node (P = 0.0000), radiotherapy dose (P = 0.0037), condition of the primary (controlled vs non-controlled) (P = 0.0015), recurrent cervical metastases post-surgery (P = 0.0286).