Managing carcinomas of unknown primary site
Hainsworth, J.D.; Greco, F.A.
Oncology 2(7): 43-49; 52-54
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0890-9091 PMID: 3275051 Document Number: 308398
Patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site are heterogeneous with respect to tumor biology, clinical characteristics, and response to therapy. These patients should no longer be considered uniformly "untreatable"; careful evaluation can identify treatable subsets. The initial light microscopic findings should be used to categorize patients into one of three groups: Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma (or adenocarcinoma), and squamous carcinoma. Subsequent evaluation and treatment differ for these three groups. Poorly differentiated carcinomas are often responsive to cisplatin-based chemotherapy; effective systemic treatments are also available for some subsets of patients with adenocarcinoma. Surgery and/or radiotherapy is often beneficial for patients with squamous carcinoma, especially those who have isolated cervical lymphadenopathy.