METASTATIC SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF AN UNKNOWN PRIMARY TUMOR LOCALIZED TO THE NECK

68 patients with metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of an unknow n primary tumor localized to the neck were treated between 1981 and 19 90. There were 11 patients treated with radiotherapy alone, 24 patient s treated with surgery and radiotherapy and 33 patients treated with r adiotherapy and chemotherapy. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1 and the m edian age was 55 years (range, 33 to 71 years). 41 (61%) patients had N3 disease, 18 (26%) patients had N2 disease and 9 (13%) patients had N1 disease. The majority of N3 patients were treated with radiotherapy + chemotherapy (n = 17) and surgery + radiotherapy (n = 17). The comp lete response (CR) to radiotherapy + chemotherapy was 73% with 19 pati ents having no evidence of disease currently. The median survival time (MST of this group was 34+ months. Of the 35 patients who had surgery and/or radiotherapy, 7 (20%) currently have no evident disease. The M ST of these two groups (combined) was 22 months. Patients with N3 dise ase who received radiotherapy + chemotherapy had a higher CR rate and longer MST when compared with those without chemotherapy.