title: [Primary neoplasm of unknown origin].
abstract: Cancers of unknown primary site constitute a heterogeneous group having in common their biological behaviour. We have analysed patients with cancer of unknown primary site admitted to University Hospital of Coimbra/Internal Medicine Service III from 1st January of 1992 to 30th June of 1998. The study included 26 patients corresponding to a prevalence of 2.5% malignant neoplasias; the median age of affected patients was 64 years old with a male-to-female ratio of 4.2:1. The most frequent histological type was well differentiated and moderately well differentiated adenocarcinoma, 46.1% of all cases. Three years global survival rate was 3.9%. The herein-reported prevalence is comparable to that found in recent literature, showing a good diagnostic skill. As expected, the prognosis was poor, revealing the disease's aggressiveness and the lack of efficient therapy in the majority of case.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Medicina III, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lebre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies