Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG36/3

Question

Unknown primary of presumed upper aerodigestive tract origin:- In people with CUADT of unknown primary, can radiotherapy target volumes be selected based on clinical and pathological factors?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Outcomes of interest include local control, progression-free survival, overall survival, and treatment-related morbidity and mortality. In a very small percentage of patients with squamous carcinoma involving a cervical lymph node the primary site remains occult despite intensive investigations. The optimum treatment for these patients is uncertain. Some clinical teams will treat the neck disease alone and others will treat some or all potential primary sites with the radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. The latter strategy is associated with a high level of side effects that may have lifelong consequences, for example xerostomia. A better understanding of the clinic-pathological factors associated with treatment outcomes would improve treatment selection with the potential to reduce these side effects.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over

Number

NG36

Date issued

February 2016

Other details