title: Occult primary malignancies.
abstract: Occult primary malignancies (OPMs) are the eighth most common cancer in the United States. Generally, the prognosis is poor, with survival usually lasting two to four months from the time of diagnosis. The primary tumor will never be found in more than half of the patients, even after an exhaustive diagnostic workup and eventual autopsy. The majority of these tumors are metastatic at the time of diagnosis; therefore, therapy is palliative. Nursing implications include providing symptom management, psychological support, and patient education.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Washington
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis