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Mayo Clinic has earned an international reputation for expertise in treating cancer. The National Cancer Institute has designated the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as a comprehensive cancer center. A multidisciplinary team of experts provides medical care for patients with carcinoma of unknown origin. The team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, imaging specialists, interventional radiologists, and other specialists as appropriate for each patient's needs.
Mayo Clinic has oncologists who specialize in diagnosing and caring for patients with carcinoma of unknown primary origin. They use detailed patient discussions, physical examinations, imaging studies, and pathological studies to evaluate patients. Physicians at Mayo make it their goal to define a cancer's origins whenever possible. They use the latest in high-resolution imaging, biopsy techniques, and expert pathological evaluations appropriate for each patient. Physicians often refer patients to Mayo Clinic with a "carcinoma of unknown primary origin," but the Mayo diagnostic team frequently establishes the organ(s) of origin. That information enables the team to more precisely tailor individual treatment plans. Read more about diagnosis for carcinoma of unknown origin.
The optimal therapy for each patient who has a carcinoma of unknown primary origin differs considerably and depends upon each individual's symptoms, the location of the cancer, and the likely organ(s) of origin. Oncologists collaborate with appropriate subspecialists to design individualized care and treatment plans. Physicians consider each patient's other health conditions and personal preferences. Care plans focus upon optimizing the quality and quantity of life. Surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy may be part of the treatment plan, which is often developed by the Mayo team in collaboration with the patient's home physician. Cutting-edge therapies such as radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, Gamma Knife™, and hepatic artery (chemo) embolization may also be used. Consultation with a pain management expert and palliative care specialists is available. Mayo Clinic patients also have access to clinical trials appropriate for their condition. Read more about treatment options for carcinoma of unknown origin.
Of all patients diagnosed with cancer, 2 percent to 4 percent are determined to have carcinoma of unknown origin, also called carcinoma of unknown primary. Physicians classify a cancer based upon where it has spread in the body and how the cells look under a microscope. The disease is labeled carcinoma of unknown origin when physicians cannot identify the original site (organ) of the cancer's development. Up to one-third of patients found to have spread (metastatic) cancer at the time of original diagnosis are initially classified as having carcinoma of unknown origin. Researchers estimate that more than 30,000 cases of carcinoma of unknown origin will be diagnosed this year.
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