Câncer de primário desconhecido: uma abordagem para o clínico / Cancer of unknown primary site: an approach for internists

ABSTRACT

Cancer of unknown primary site is a commom clinical syndrome characterised by neoplasm whose primary site remain unknown after visual investigation. The clinical approach is based in biopsy findings and a cost-effective investigation for each anatomo-pathologic category (undifferentiated malign neoplasm, well differentiated adenocarcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, poorly differentiatetd carcinoma). Most of times, primary site identification is not possible at all and treatment is "empirical, made by surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, according clinical situation and investigation results. If the primary site is identified, appropriate treatment is employed.