title: The therapeutic dilemma of carcinomas of unknown origin.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents