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Previous Volume 329:257-263 July 22, 1993 Number 4 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Few diagnoses in medicine engender as much pessimism as the diagnosis of metastatic cancer of an unknown primary site. Patients with this syndrome often have widespread metastatic disease, with involvement of multiple visceral sites such as the liver, lungs, and bones, and are often debilitated at the time of diagnosis. Early reports of chemotherapy in these patients documented low rates of response and no effect on the dismal median survival of three to four months, thereby strengthening arguments for a nihilistic approach^1,2,3,4.

Recently, however, the treatment of some patients with cancer of an unknown primary site has improved substantially. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Diagnosis

Pathological Evaluation

The Search for the Primary Site

Treatment

Adenocarcinoma

Squamous Carcinoma

Poorly Differentiated Carcinoma and Poorly Differentiated Adenocarcinoma

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, 250 25th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37203, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Hainsworth.

References

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