Incidence of occult primary-their diagnosis and surgical management.

Twenty one (16.5%) cases of Occult primary 10 males and 3 females were analysed out of 121 cases of secondaries in the neck regarding their diagnosis and non surgical management over a period of six years, from march 1990 to Feb., 1996 in the department of ENT and Radiotherapy of I.G.M.C. & Hospital, Shimla. Majority of these cases were in the age group of 50-70 years and 95% of these cases had squamous cell carcinoma & in one case there was adenocarcinoma. 12 (57%) of these patients were in N3stage. 13 patients were treated by radiotherapy, 3 by chemotherapy whereas remaining 5 cases absconded and therefore no treatment could be given to them.