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Cancer of unknown primary origin CT scan

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: , Roukoz A. Karam, M.D.[2]

Overview

  • CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary origin.


CT scan

  • CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary origin. It is considered one of the most valuable diagnostic tools in the search for the primary origin of the tumor.
  • CT scanning has provided a 20% increase in diagnostic accuracy relative to other imaging modalities.[1]
  • Head and neck CT scan may be helpful in the determination of the primary site of cancer especially in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma.[2]


References

  1. Karsell PR, Sheedy PF, O’Connell MJ (1982). “Computed tomography in search of cancer of unknown origin”. JAMA. 248 (3): 340–3. PMID 7087129.
  2. Fizazi K, Greco FA, Pavlidis N, Daugaard G, Oien K, Pentheroudakis G; et al. (2015). “Cancers of unknown primary site: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”. Ann Oncol. 26 Suppl 5: v133–8. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdv305. PMID 26314775.

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