DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy-proven epidermoid carcinoma of the following head and neck sites: Hypopharynx Oral cavity Larynx Oropharynx Nasopharynx Unknown primary origin with positive head and neck nodes TNM Stages I-IV or recurrent disease with no distant metastases, i.e.: T1 N0 M0 T1 N1-3 M0 T2-4 any N M0 T0 N1-3 M0 No carcinoma of the true vocal cord or other condition with greater than 90% probability of cure