Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the neck from an occult origin

rcbc Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões Rev. Col. Bras. Cir. 0100-6991 1809-4546 Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil We reviewed our experience with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (MSCC) to the neck from an occult origin in order to assess whether radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy plus surgery improved the local control of disease. This retrospective study reviewed 54 patients with MSCC treated in our service between 1986 and 1992. Six patients (11%) were female and 48 patients (89%) male. The mean age were 54 years old. Forty patients (74%) had metastasis to level 2. Using the TNM classification of UICC 1992, 8 patients were classified as N1, 20 patients as N2, 22 patients as N3, and 4 patients were unclassified. All patients underwent upper aero-digestive endoscopy and chest X-ray. Thirty-five patients (85%) had fine- needle aspiration biopsy, 11 patients had excisional biopsy and 15 underwent incisional biopsy elsewhere. Thirty-eight patients were treated for cure and 16 patients had palliative treatment with radiotherapy. Ten patients were underwent neck dissection and 28 patients radiotherapy alone. Sixteen patients were treated with radiotherapy and palliative intention and were excluded from the survival and local failure analysis. Neck failure was analyzed using thec² methods, comparing the modalities of treatment (surgery plus rxt, rxt alone), and the differences on diseases free survival were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test Fine-needle biopsy made the diagnosis in 85.3% of the patients. Eight patients (15%) had distant metastasis. Primary carcinomas were identified subsequently in 5 patients (9.4%) Eighteen patients (64%) treated with radiotherapy alone had neck recurrences, 3 patients (33%) treated with surgery + radiotherapy had neck failures, (P=0.05). Control of the neck was better in patients N2 and N3 treated with surgery plus radiotherapy respectively p=0.05 and p=0.09. Comparing the diseases free survival of N 1/N2 patients and N I/N3 patients, the patients staged as N 1 had significant better survival (respectively p=0.007 and p=0.007). The five-year disease free survival was 69%, 11%, 15% for N1/N2/N3 patients, respectively. Disease free survival was 28%forall stages. The fine-needle biopsy was a good method for diagnosis. Control of the neck was better in patients classified as N2 and N3 treated with surgery plus radiotherapy. ARTIGOS ORIGINAIS Metástase cervical de carcinoma epidermóide com tumor primário desconhecido Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the neck from an occult origin Roberto Araújo Lima, TCBC-RJI; Jacob Kligerman, TCBC-RJI; Geraldo Matos de Sá, TCBC-RJI; Mauro Marques Barbosa, TCBC-RJI; Fernando Luiz Dias, TCBC-RJI; Bartolomeu de Meio JuniorII ITitular da Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital do Câncer -INCa IIResidente R3 da Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital do Câncer -INCa Endereço para correspondência RESUMO Revisamos nossa experiência com carcinoma epidermóide metastático (CEM) para o pescoço com tumor primário desconhecido com a intenção de evidenciar quando o tratamento radioterápico exclusivo ou o tratamento cirúrgico seguido de radioterapia teriam impacto positivo sobre a sobrevida. Este é um estudo retrospectivo de 54 pacientes com CEM tratados na Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital do Câncer/INCa entre 1986 e 1992. Quarenta e oito pacientes (89%) eram do sexo masculino, a idade média foi de 54 anos. Quarenta pacientes tinham metástase para linfonodos cervicais da cadeia jugular interna alta (nível 2). Utilizamos a classificação TNM da UICC de 1992 para estagiar os pacientes, onde oito pacientes foram classificados como N1, vinte como N2, 22 como N3, sendo que quatro pacientes permaneceram não classificados. Todos foram submetidos a endoscopia do trato aerodigestivo superior e raio X de tórax. Trinta e cinco pacientes foram submetidos a biópsia de aspiração com agulha fina. Trinta e oito pacientes tiveram tratamento com intenção curativa e 1.6 tiveram tratamento paliativo com radioterapia. Dos pacientes tratados com intenção curativa, dez foram submetidos a esvaziamento cervical e 28 tiveram tratamento exclusivo com radioterapia. Os 16 pacientes tratados com intenção paliativa foram excluídos dos cálculos de sobrevida e análise das recidivas. As recidivas cervicais foram analisadas usando o método do qui-quadrado, e as curvas de sobrevida foram comparadas usando-se o teste de Wilcoxon. A biópsia aspirativa com agulha fina alcançou o diagnóstico em 85% dos casos. Oito pacientes (15%) apresentaram metástase à distância. O tumor primário foi identificado subseqüentemente em 9% dos pacientes. Dezoito pacientes (64%) tratados com radioterapia exclusiva tiveram recidivas no pescoço, e três pacientes (33%) tratados com cirurgia + radioterapia tiveram recidivas no pescoço. (p=0,05) Os pacientes classificados como N2/N3 tratados com cirurgia + radioterapia tiveram melhores resultados do que os tratados com radioterapia exclusiva (respectivamente p=0,05 e p=0,09). Os pacientes Nl tiveram melhor sobrevida livre de doença do que os pacientes N2/N3 (respectivamente p=0,007 e p=0,OO7). A sobrevida livre de doença em cinco anos foi de 69% para os pacientes Nl, 11 % para os pacientes N2 e 15% para os pacientes N3. A sobrevida livre de doença para todos os estágios foi de 28%. A biópsia aspirativa com agulha fina é um bom meio para diagnóstico e deve ser usada rotineiramente. Unitermos: Metástase cervical; Primário desconhecido; Carcinoma epidermóide. ABSTRACT We reviewed our experience with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (MSCC) to the neck from an occult origin in order to assess whether radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy plus surgery improved the local control of disease. This retrospective study reviewed 54 patients with MSCC treated in our service between 1986 and 1992. Six patients (11%) were female and 48 patients (89%) male. The mean age were 54 years old. Forty patients (74%) had metastasis to level 2. Using the TNM classification of UICC 1992, 8 patients were classified as N1, 20 patients as N2, 22 patients as N3, and 4 patients were unclassified. All patients underwent upper aero-digestive endoscopy and chest X-ray. Thirty-five patients (85%) had fine- needle aspiration biopsy, 11 patients had excisional biopsy and 15 underwent incisional biopsy elsewhere. Thirty-eight patients were treated for cure and 16 patients had palliative treatment with radiotherapy. Ten patients were underwent neck dissection and 28 patients radiotherapy alone. Sixteen patients were treated with radiotherapy and palliative intention and were excluded from the survival and local failure analysis. Neck failure was analyzed using thec2 methods, comparing the modalities of treatment (surgery plus rxt, rxt alone), and the differences on diseases free survival were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test Fine-needle biopsy made the diagnosis in 85.3% of the patients. Eight patients (15%) had distant metastasis. Primary carcinomas were identified subsequently in 5 patients (9.4%) Eighteen patients (64%) treated with radiotherapy alone had neck recurrences, 3 patients (33%) treated with surgery + radiotherapy had neck failures, (P=0.05). Control of the neck was better in patients N2 and N3 treated with surgery plus radiotherapy respectively p=0.05 and p=0.09. Comparing the diseases free survival of N 1/N2 patients and N I/N3 patients, the patients staged as N 1 had significant better survival (respectively p=0.007 and p=0.007). The five-year disease free survival was 69%, 11%, 15% for N1/N2/N3 patients, respectively. Disease free survival was 28%forall stages. The fine-needle biopsy was a good method for diagnosis. Control of the neck was better in patients classified as N2 and N3 treated with surgery plus radiotherapy. Key words: Neck metastasis; Unknown primary; Squamous cell carcinoma. Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF. Full text available only in PDF format. Endereço para correspondência: Dr. Roberto Araújo Lima Rua Real Grandeza, 139/606 - Botafogo 22281-030- Rio de Janeiro - RJ E-mail: [e-mail] Recebido em 13/5/98 Aceito para publicação em 4/10/99 Trabalho realizado na Seção de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital do Câncer - INCa - Rio de Janeiro. 1. Marcial-Vega VA, Cardenes H, refez CA, et al. Cervical metastases from unknown primaries: radiotherapeutic management and appearance of subsequent primaries. Int J Radiat Onco/ Bio/ Phys 1990; 19:919-928. Cervical metastases from unknown primaries: radiotherapeutic management and appearance of subsequent primaries Int J Radiat Onco/ Bio/ Phys 1990 919 928 19 Marcial-Vega VA Cardenes H refez CA 2. Rice DH, Spiro RH - Metastatic carcinoma of the neck, primary unknown. Rice DH, Spiro RH - Current Concepts in Head & Neck Cancer. The American Cancer Society 1989; 127 - 133. Current Concepts in Head & Neck Cancer 1989 127 133 Rice DH Spiro RH Rice DH Spiro RH 3. 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