The therapeutic dilemma of carcinomas of unknown origin.
The charts of 23 patients with metastatic carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively in hospitalized patients who had no apparent primary lesion. Eleven patients eventually had autopsies. The primary became apparent in 8 patients either pre- or post mortem. Treatment by operative intervention, and/or radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy are discussed. The discussion reviews mechanisms of metastasis, problems in pathological interpretation, and considerations for evaluation of such patients.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001344:Autopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents