BACKGROUND: Metastatic cancer of unknown primary (MCUP) accounts for 5-10% of presenting oncology patients. Premorbid identification of the primary source occurs in only 20-25% of cases. A small fraction of these tumors present in the skin and are thus likely to be encountered by dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons. OBJECTIVE: To present a practical schema for the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with MCUP. METHODS: Case report and literature review. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of MCUP is associated with a poor prognosis, with median survival rates of less than 1 year. Efforts to identify subgroups of patients with understanding of these subgroups will enable early identification of patients with treatable disease and more favorable prognoses.
BACKGROUND: Metastatic cancer of unknown primary (MCUP) accounts for 5-10% of presenting oncology patients. Premorbid identification of the primary source occurs in only 20-25% of cases. A small fraction of these tumors present in the skin and are thus likely to be encountered by dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons. OBJECTIVE: To present a practical schema for the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with MCUP. METHODS: Case report and literature review. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of MCUP is associated with a poor prognosis, with median survival rates of less than 1 year. Efforts to identify subgroups of patients with understanding of these subgroups will enable early identification of patients with treatable disease and more favorable prognoses.
Authors: Dorothée Nashan; Marcel Lucas Müller; Markus Braun-Falco; Sebastian Reichenberger; Rolf-Markus Szeimies; Leena Bruckner-Tuderman Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2008-06-17 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Paolo Lido; Giovanni Paolino; Andrea Feliziani; Letizia Santurro; Mauro Montuori; Flavio de Sanctis; Piero Rossi; Giuseppe Petrella; Edoardo Ricciardi; Giuseppe Fusano; Orlandi Augusto; Patrizio Polisca Journal: An Bras Dermatol Date: 2015 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 1.896