Document Detail


Metastatic carcinoma of the neck of unknown primary origin: evolution and efficacy of the modern workup.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19841343     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of various diagnostic modalities in detecting occult primary tumor location. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record study. SETTING: Academic head and neck oncology practice. PATIENTS: A total of 183 consecutive patients with metastatic carcinoma of the neck from an unknown primary tumor during a 10-year period, after exclusion of those with previous history of head and neck cancer, a primary tumor site evident on physical examination, or primary tumors of the neck. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of primary tumor location by various imaging modalities and panendoscopy with directed biopsies. RESULTS: Primary tumor location was identified in 84 patients (45.9%). Preoperative imaging (computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography [PET], and/or PET-CT fusion scan) identified sites suggestive of primary tumor location in 69 patients. Subsequent directed biopsy of these sites yielded positive results in 42 cases (60.9%). The rate of successful identification of a primary tumor for each of the imaging modalities was as follows: CT scan of the neck, 14 of 146 patients (9.6%); magnetic resonance imaging of the neck, 0 of 13 patients (0%); whole-body PET scan, 6 of 41 patients (14.6%); and PET-CT fusion study, 23 of 52 patients (44.2%) (P = .001). The highest yield in identifying primary tumor sites was obtained in patients who had undergone PET-CT plus panendoscopy with directed biopsies with or without tonsillectomy: 31 of 52 patients (59.6%). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic workup including PET-CT, alongside panendoscopy with directed biopsies including bilateral tonsillectomy, offers the greatest likelihood of successfully identifying occult primary tumor location.
Authors:
Joshua D Waltonen; Enver Ozer; Nathan C Hall; David E Schuller; Amit Agrawal
Related Documents :
11520363 - A comparison of mri and pet scanning in surgically staged loco-regionally advanced cerv...
18201753 - Comparison of the validity of magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomograp...
16132913 - Imaging of penile traumas--therapeutic implications.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery     Volume:  135     ISSN:  1538-361X     ISO Abbreviation:  Arch. Otolaryngol. Head Neck Surg.     Publication Date:  2009 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-10-20     Completed Date:  2009-12-03     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8603209     Medline TA:  Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1024-9     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biopsy
Diagnostic Imaging*
Endoscopy
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis*,  secondary*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Dissection
Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / diagnosis*,  pathology
Physical Examination
Predictive Value of Tests
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The role of pectoralis major muscle flap in salvage total laryngectomy.
Next Document:  Salvage treatment of late neck metastasis in esthesioneuroblastoma: a meta-analysis.