BACKGROUND:
Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) constitute of a heterogenous group of malignancies presenting with lymph nodes of distant metastases. Metastasis of Neck lymph node from an occult primary contribute to 5-10% of patients. With advancements in diagnostics and detection techniques incidence appears decreasing. Management of metastases from unknown origin remains a therapeutic challenge. Hence this study is done to assess the Clinicopathological patterns of presentation of neck lymph node metastases and its multimodality of managements.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the clinico-pathological patterns of presentation of cervical lymph node metastases among patients with Carcinoma of Unknown Primary in a tertiary care hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
2. To study the various modalities of treatment for them.
METHODOLOGY:
All patients presenting to the department of general surgery, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital during one year period with neck node as the presentations were evaluated. After institute ethical clearance and informed written consent detailed clinical examination of the patient were done, followed by the pathological and radiological examination.
RESULTS:
Total of 30 patients with FNAC confirmed malignant cervical Lymphadenopathy were included in the study. The mean age of the study participantswas 57 + 12.5 years.(60%) were squamous cell carcinoma followed by adenocarcinoma in 26.7%.90% of had stage III cancer and 10% of them had stage IV cancer. Primary site of malignancy was unidentified and patient underwent multimodality of treatment.
CONCLUSION:
The commonest histology was squamous cell carcinoma followed by Adenocarcinoma and the primary site of cancer could not be diagnosed. Males and elderly were commonly involved compared to females. Combined modality of approaches involving surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were used to manage the patient with carcinoma of unknown primary
