Unknown Primary Cancer

Neck lump that arise that are proven to be cancerous sometimes have no obvious source (or primary). Some neck lumps (especially those high up in the neck) will have arisen from another area somewhere in the Head and Neck region. The commonest type of tumour that presents as an “unknown primary” cancer is squamous cell cancer.

The most common spots for it to arise are from the tonsils or the base of the tongue. The primary cancer can sometimes be just a couple of millimetres in size and hidden in the folds of the throat.

Certain types of scans like PET CT scan can help identify the primary site of the tumour. An ENT H&N Surgeon can then perform examinations under anaesthesia and biopsies to try to identify the cause.

Sometimes if no site is found, then a procedure called a lingual tonsillectomy or mucosectomy with a robots (TORS – transoral Robotic Surgery) can be used to take the lining from the back of the tongue as a final attempt to identify a site of primary tumour.

Most tumours are treated with aim of curing the patient.